Bury South MP Ivan Lewis teams up with mayoral hopeful Andy Burnham in bid to end rough sleeping

And Mr Lewis, along with Manchester City Councillor Beth Knowles, will act as co-chairmen of the Mayor’s Homelessness Action Network, if Mr Burnham wins the Greater Manchester mayoral election on May 4.

They will be asked to draw up a plan, which will be developed in partnership with third sector organisations, statutory agencies, businesses and those with a personal experience of rough-sleeping and homelessness.

Leigh MP Mr Burnham has already pledged to hand 15 per cent of his potential Mayoral salary to help homeless people in the region.

Mr Lewis lost out to Mr Burnham in a bid to land the Labour Mayoral nomination last year but said he is excited to be involved in the new campaign.

He said: “Andy Burnham speaks for all decent people across Greater Manchester when he says ending rough sleeping and reducing homelessness should be a priority for the incoming Mayor.” His salary pledge demonstrates a refreshing personal commitment to leading by example.

“I am excited at the prospect of working with Beth and the many excellent existing housing and homelessness organisations to develop a radical plan which will support Andy to put social justice at the heart of his exciting Mayoral vision for Greater Manchester.”

Mr Burnham added: “I am delighted that Ivan and Beth have agreed to Co-Chair this new body and I want to thank them both. “Ivan spoke passionately during the selection process about the plight of people sleeping rough on our streets.“Nobody should be without a roof over their heads and a secure place to call home - least of all children. These figures must shock the Government out of its complacency. We cannot end homelessness overnight but as Mayor I want to bring together churches, companies and voluntary groups to build a new partnership. This action network marks the start of that new approach and my personal ambition to end rough-sleeping here by the end of the decade.”