THERESA May has pledged her support for the Northern Powerhouse project, after she was accused of watering down the strategy by extending it to the rest of the UK.

The Prime Minister told MPs she is "absolutely committed" to the project, championed by former chancellor George Osborne.

Over the summer she suggested a shift in policy by announcing she would extend the industrial strategy to all corners of the country.

At the time, shadow home secretary Andy Burnham attacked the move, accusing the Prime Minister of diluting the Government's focus on the disadvantaged areas of the North.

Under Mr Osborne, cities in the North of England were offered infrastructure investment and devolved powers in a bid to rebalance the economy away from its dependence on London and the South-East.

Tory MP David Rutley pushed her over investment in science industries in the North.

The Macclesfield MP said: "Can you confirm that these sectors will be absolutely central to what the Government does with the Northern Powerhouse, in taking forward its new industrial strategy, but also that they'll be central to these new trade deals that are so vital to the future of our economy?"

Mrs May replied: "This Government remains absolutely committed to the Northern Powerhouse and the development that we have seen, crucially in new industries and looking at new scientific development, is and remains an important part of that.

"I can assure him that as we look to these new trade deals we will also be looking to the sort of developments that can take place, the sort of innovative decisions that we can take which ensures that we're not just looking at trade in traditional goods and services but actually say what more can we do."

On Tuesday, the North East Combined Authority Leadership Board voted against the current proposals on offer for devolution in the region.