The Prime Minister has vowed to support a local MP in a bid to see the town of Leigh become independent from its neighbour Wigan.
Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Boris Johnson promised to do 'anything I can' to help his Conservative colleague's bid to 'escape' the control of Wigan Borough Council.
At a raucous session of Parliament, Leigh MP James Grundy asked what could be done to separate his constituency from 'the big government of big Wigan'.
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Leigh, a relatively large town, has been under the control of Wigan council since the 1970s when it became a part of the municipal area of Greater Manchester.
However, Mr Grundy says his constituents have 'never accepted' this state of affairs.
A review of the ward boundaries of towns across England is currently underway, with the Boundary Commission set to make changes to which areas fall in MPs constituencies by 2023.
Speaking in Parliament today (November 17), Mr Grundy said: "The people of Leigh have never accepted our first merger with the rival - friendly rival, but rival - town of Wigan back in 1973.
"Could the Prime Minister tell me how we could escape the big government of big Wigan by getting our own council back?"
In response, Mr Johnson replied: "I thank my honourable friend and I thank him for his campaign against local Labour government overtaxing and delivering inadequate services.
"The Local Boundary Commission will look at the boundary reviews but meantime I will support him in any way that I can."
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