SO now we know. The same set of announcements that denied Greater Manchester funding for the much-needed extension of Metrolink also committed the Government, in principle, to spending about £10 billion on building Cross-rail - a project to link conventional railways east-west across central London.

Where do civil servants live? In the South-east. Where do most of the Government live? In the South-east. Where does middle England live? In the South-east. So let's be nice to middle England, and let the North West go hang! Nothing new there then.

Peter Johnston,

Kendal Road,

Bolton