The Manchester Evening News challenged the Tories’ record on “levelling up” as the party’s conference arrived on its patch.

The MEN splashed yesterday on a special report examining how the government is doing against its own measures on the project, a key part of the Conservatives’ 2019 manifesto.

The in-depth report revealed in key areas including education, health, economy, transport, public spending and employment, Manchester or the surrounding region are still losing out when compared with London and the South of England.

The report, run with the headline ‘Levelling up… So, how’s it going Mr Prime Minister’, was compiled by MEN journalist Joseph Timan, who yesterday began his first day as a political writer for the newspaper after being promoted from his previous local democracy reporter role.

Joseph was aided by Paul Gallagher, executive editor for digital development at MEN publisher Reach plc, while the front page was designed by Gary Beckwith.

MEN editor Sarah Lester told HTFP: “I thought really carefully about this front page. I believe strongly we need a different perspective and felt the best way to encapsulate that was by looking at the Government’s own measures of success.

“Joseph looked at this in great detail, along with Paul who provided support from our data unit.”

“I just feel there needs to be a fundamental restructuring of the way the country is run, with more devolution. It seems the country is being run by people who don’t understand what’s going on around here.”

The splash won praise from Labour’s Shadow Minister for International Development Lisa Nandy.

She wrote on X: “Welcome to the North of England Prime Minister. We’re straight talking people up here.”

Announcing his new role on X, Joseph wrote: “I’ll be leading our political coverage, both local and national, and also covering more breaking news.

“I’ve been a local democracy reporter for nearly five years now and I’ve genuinely loved it. Covering five councils and the combined authority in Greater Manchester has set me up so well for this next step.

“This new role is honestly a dream job, leading political coverage for the best regional newspaper in the business.

“Can’t wait to get stuck in, just as the political world comes to the North West for the big party conferences over the next couple of weeks.”