Given that Manchester is slapbang in Labour territory why on earth would Milliband not grasp the opportunity to suggest expansion "in the North" based on this evidence ....... even "IF" it were for purely political reasons !
Since Blair's leadership Labour is the party of the metropolitan elite and the party of war, as well demonstrated by the policies of New Labour, and nothing changed with Brown and won't with Miliband. Labour treats its traditional supporters with contempt in the belief that they have nowhere else to go.