Andy Burnham spoke of 'a great era for the English cities and the English regions' as he was quizzed on the start of Sir Keir Starmer's new Labour government today.
In a nod to further devolution out of London and into the regions, the Prime Minister spoke on Saturday of being 'bold about pushing power and resource out of Whitehall', saying that 'those with skin in the game know what's best for their communities'.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester said devolution was key to 'get this country growing'. "Devolution to the big city regions is the way to do that, as Greater Manchester has proved," Mr Burnham said.
Asked by the BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg whether he was 'missing' being part of a Cabinet as an MP, he said: "I'm really excited, actually, to be in the position I am in.
"Because I think this is going to be a great era for the English cities and the English regions, and Greater Manchester will be at the forefront of that with a government saying that its core mission is growth. Well, Greater Manchester has been growing faster than the UK economy in recent times, and we have got so much more to give."
He said he 'wouldn't swap my position for anything' and that he was looking forward to meeting with Sir Keir.
The new PM said he would be meeting all Metro mayors on Tuesday after visits to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Mr Burnham urged Sir Keir to 'commit early to the Northern Powerhouse and deliver what the Tories said they would do but never did'. "I think that would be a very wise move - it would create a path to growth. If people here in the north of England see that change come through in a Parliament, then I think they will stick with this Government for the long haul," he said.
The mayor referenced getting started on the new railway between Liverpool and Manchester.
The mayors of Manchester and Liverpool pledged in April to improve rail travel between the two cities with the creation of a new public-private Liverpool-Manchester Railway Board. Mr Burnham and Steve Rotheram revealed options are being considered to bolster the corridor between Liverpool and Manchester following the scrapping of HS2 last year.
"The last government left £17bn in the plan for that new railway, but it just couldn't make decisions on what should happen at Manchester Piccadilly and at the other end of the line, in Liverpool," said Mr Burnham.
He said he and his Liverpool counterpart, Mr Rotheram, 'have a very clear plan for this railway line' and 'public and private stakeholders' have been brought together.
Mr Burnham said he would also be offering 'to build our share' of new homes - including council homes - and that Greater Manchester wanted to have 'a decisive break with the austerity of the last 14 years'. "It's been so punishing for so many people in our country," he added.
Mr Burnham said he was 'very pleased indeed' that Rochdale 'came back to Labour'. Paul Waugh was elected as George Galloway - who was voted into Parliament in a by-election just four months ago - lost his seat.
"Paul Waugh will be a fantastic MP there," he said. "I think there is proof we are [the Labour Party] regaining people's trust."
Mr Burnham said 'it feels already like we are in a new era with a very different more serious government'. "The great thing about what the British people have done is that they have created a platform for political stability," he added.
Sir Keir Starmer, he said, had made 'a strong start'.
