MINISTER Jake Berry urged the north of England to 'get behind' Theresa May to ensure she can get the 'best' Brexit deal on his visit to Warrington.

The Rossendale and Darwen MP, who is responsible for the Northern Powerhouse, visited Eddie Stobart's headquarters in Appleton Thorn last Thursday to announce the logistics firm as the 100th partner of the Northern Powerhouse project.

A Northern Powerhouse branded lorry also hit the roads for the first time shortly after the deal was confirmed.

Mr Berry hailed the significance of the move – and insisted that the Government is 'absolutely committed' to the project.

The 38-year-old said: "This is a business that is about connecting the whole of Britain, not just the whole of the north.

"I don't think we could have a better 100th partner.

"What it shows with major businesses, like Eddie Stobart, coming on board is that those businesses in the north of England absolutely back our plan to create more high-paying jobs, while building a north of England fit for the future as we go out and compete.

"As the minister, I am absolutely committed, but I am also really confident that everyone across Government is absolutely committed to the Northern Powerhouse.

"That is because we know, as a Government, that towns like Warrington – and the surrounding areas in Cheshire and Manchester – are growing the fastest and strongest in our economy."

Mr Berry was quick to dismiss suggestions that enthusiasm for the plan has been lost under the current Tory leadership.

"Warrington is a hugely important part of the Northern Powerhouse project," he said.

"It has one of the most productive economies in the north of England and we want to grow and build on that success.

"But almost the difference with my approach to the Northern Powerhouse, and the approach taken by George Osborne, is that the Northern Powerhouse, under the leadership of Theresa May, is about the whole of the north.

"It is as much about places like Warrington as it is about the centre of Manchester.

"It is about the whole north approach."

The politician also called on residents in the area to throw their support behind the under fire Prime Minister.

"I am 100 per cent behind our Prime Minister, largely because she has been a brilliant Prime Minister for the north of England," he added.

"If you look at the Budget we had, that was the best Budget for the north of England that I can ever recall in the time that I have been in politics.

"And that shows that this project has the backing from our Prime Minister.

"That is why the north has to get behind her.

"She is backing us so we have to keep backing her, so that she can get the best deal for Britain in Brexit.

"It is difficult to say what will happen with Brexit negotiations but the Government is absolutely committed to delivering on its Northern Powerhouse.

"I think Brexit makes the Northern Powerhouse succeeding almost more important than it was because we know that we need a really strong northern economy to create those more high-paid jobs, so Britain can be a really strong economy as we leave the EU."