FURNESS MP Simon Fell is among a new Tory ‘trade union’ of Northern MPs being launched to put pressure on Downing Street to deliver on its promises to the region.

He is among 27 Conservative MPs involved in the Northern Research Group, which is led by Rossendale and Darwen MP Jake Berry.

The former northern powerhouse minister said: “It’s almost like a sort of trade union for northern MPs, where we can use our collective muscle and bargaining power together, to make sure that we get the best possible deal on a pan-northern basis.

“This isn’t about giving Government a bad time, but there are arguments that we collectively as northern MPs make together, to create a compelling case for the Government to invest in the north, making sure that this Government delivers on its promise to ‘level up’ the north, deliver that northern powerhouse and create wealth across the north of England.”

Mr Berry added: “We don’t form a government unless we win the north.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson achieved the commanding 80-seat Tory majority in the December general election by taking a swathe of seats from Labour’s traditional ‘red wall’ across the north of England.

Last month Conservative MPs launched a ‘levelling up taskforce’ which said the Government should aim to increase wages and employment rates in the poorest areas.

The promise to ‘level up’ the country was a key part of the Conservative’s 2019 general election campaign which saw the party win a number of seats in northern England and the Midlands traditionally held by Labour.

Mr Fell won a sizeable majority in Barrow and Furness, beating Labour candidate Chris Altree into second place. It marked the first time a Conservative had been elected to the seat since 1987.