Former Chancellor George Osborne has taken up a new job as chair of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership.

The think tank will bring together businesses and politicians to commission research, share ideas and aim to hold the government to press ahead with devolution for the north.

Mr Osborne, who championed the idea of the creating the Northern Powerhouse, was sacked by new Prime Minister Theresa May following the Brexit vote.

He said: “There’s a real excitement now in the north about what we can achieve if we work together. I don’t want us to lose that. That’s why I’m so pleased major businesses, civic leaders and others have worked with me to create this new northern powerhouse partnership. I’m also glad that the government has given its support.

“Chairing this new partnership will now be a major focus of my political energies. The Northern Powerhouse is here to stay.”

He added it has to be a “team effort” to make the vision a reality and “we can’t just expect Whitehall to do it all”.

Mr Osborne will remain a backbench MP for Tatton.