John McDonnell has accused Boris Johnson of “taking the p*** out of the North” with his latest bid to woo voters.
The Shadow Chancellor’s attack came after the Prime Minister visited Manchester to unveil plans for a rail link across the Pennines.
Writing in the People Mr McDonnell, born in Liverpool, has dismissed his proposals as a publicity stunt.
He said: “ Boris Johnson ’s speech proves he really does think every one of us born north of Watford must be thick as two short planks.
"He really is taking the p*** out of the North if he thinks he can get away with his latest round of bluster.”
Mr Johnson has also pledged a £3.6billion boost for “left-behind towns”.
But Mr McDonnell said: “He failed to mention this is just the money Theresa May promised to bribe Labour MPs to back her bad Brexit deal. Johnson treats us all with contempt.”
Mr Johnson’s speech – the first of his premiership outside London – increased speculation that an early general election may be on the way.
If, as expected, the Tories lose the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election on Thursday to the Lib Dems, the Government’s working majority will fall from two to one.
And Mr Johnson’s constituency majority is the smallest of any PM since John Major.
Making a pitch to traditional Labour voters, Mr Johnson insisted politicians had failed people in the North.
He set out the four “ingredients” for the success as livability, connectivity, culture and power and responsibility.
And he said this means areas having great public services, affordable homes, safe streets, fast broadband and more responsibility and accountability.
But Mr McDonnell dismissed his claims as “spin”, adding: “Contrast Johnson’s stunts with Jeremy Corbyn ’s commitment this week to building the world-leading Mersey Barrage, to provide cheap, alternative energy to Liverpool and make a huge contribution to tackling climate change.
“That’s the sort of straight talking, honest politics we need.”
Downing Street said detailed plans on the proposed Manchester to Leeds rail route will be published in the autumn, following a review of HS2. Mr Johnson used the speech to state he wants to “rebalance power, growth and productivity across the UK”.
But Rachael Maskell, MP for York Central and Shadow Transport Minister, said “nothing has changed”.
She said: “It’s embarrassing the PM had to ask people to applaud his announcement of a faster line between Leeds and Manchester.
“The northern audience know it’s not even a half measure and not worth clapping.
“Council leaders, mayors, businesses all want Labour’s Crossrail for the North, from Liverpool to Hull and up to the North East, as we promised in our last manifesto, to truly unleash the economic potential of the North.
“This is another Tory PM coming to the North with nothing new.”
Meanwhile, Mr Johnson definitively killed off Theresa May’s Brexit deal this week, insisting he was prepared to leave without a deal and pressing for the Irish backstop to be scrapped.
