00:00Prime Minister Andy Burnham says Birmingham may be nudging ahead in the long-running argument
00:05over Britain's second city. The former Greater Manchester mayor would not choose between Birmingham
00:12and Manchester, but also pointed to HS2 at Curzon Street. On population, Birmingham itself is far
00:19larger, with about 1,184,000 people, compared with around 590,000 in Manchester. Comparisons can
00:29become blurred because Greater Manchester includes places such as Salford, Stockport and Bolton.
00:35Burnham said both cities should be supported equally as major centres outside London,
00:40while acknowledging Birmingham's growing economic momentum.
