BRITAIN's biggest cities outside London are booming - and Manchester is leading the way.

Deputy prime minister John Prescott said Manchester's international profile put it ahead of the pack as a report showed eight "core cities" were enjoying more jobs, less crime and better education standards.

The eight - Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle Nottingham and Sheffield - are unlocking new money for regeneration and have attracted people back to city-centre homes and lifestyles.

Mr Prescott said: "Manchester is leading most of the core cities.

"They are all doing very well, but Manchester has been a groundbreaker in many things.

"Not only have you got people coming back to live in the city, and making it a cleaner and greener place to be, but you are international. You can be a core city, but if you have an international stamp like Manchester, that is really very important."

The Commonwealth Games boosted the city's reputation, while Manchester was already renowned for its sporting prowess through Manchester United and City, along with its vibrant music scene which produced groups such as Oasis, and cultural roots established with the Hall' and top theatres.

The core cities were brought together in 1995. The aim was to bring Britain's main urban centres up to the same levels of prosperity as their continental rivals. In 2001, Manchester was placed 57th in a finance league table of European cities, despite being 17th in a list of "best places to locate a business" and having the 13th busiest airport.

Changes

Mr Prescott said the key to moving through the ranks in the future would be creating a greater role for Britain's regions. He said it was "no coincidence" five of the six top cities were in Germany, with its federal structure.

But he said the core cities had already proved they could deliver "real and lasting changes".

"That is what is happening here in Manchester," he said.

"Claimant unemployment has fallen by more than 46 per cent since 1997.

People are coming back into the city centres.

Just take the Millennium Quarter - it's got what I call the `wow factor'.

"It excites and inspires - it makes you proud of Manchester.

"A lot has been done. A lot is still left to do. But the urban renaissance is gathering pace in Manchester.

"Better homes, more jobs, higher standards of education, less crime and more attractive places to live - all down to the right leadership, the right skills and the right vision. It may be a quiet revolution, but it is creating sustainable communities for the longer term and we should all celebrate that fact."

Mr Prescott, who has previously called Manchester Britain's "regeneration capital", said core cities should no longer compare themselves with London, but had confidence to be themselves.

City council leader Richard Leese said: "We have been prepared to learn from other cities and we help each other up.

"But there are many respects where we are really leading the way."

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