Transport and infrastructure billions for the regions

BORIS Johnson will use the Queen’s Speech on Thursday to signal a spending spree of up to £78 billion for transport and infrastructure in the North and Midlands.

A national infrastructure strategy to spread prosperity to “every corner ofthe United Kingdom” is likely to feature in the speech.

It will be followed on Friday by the introduction of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which could be voted on the same day.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman told a Westminster briefing: “We plan to start the process before Christmas and will do so in the proper constitutional way in discussion with the Speaker.”

The official opening of Parliament including the

Queen’s Speech, setting out the Government’s plans for the year ahead, takes place on Thursday.

Mr Johnson has said he wants to “close the productivity gap” between London and other parts of the country and will pledge reforms across transport, energy and broadband.

An extra £78 billion is being earmarked to improve transport in the north of England with new roads, bridges and buses.

The speech is also expected to include plans to enshrine in law the government’s commitment to boost NHS spending by £33.9 billion by 2023-24.

And on Friday, the Government will bring the Withdrawal Agreement Bill back to the Commons.

It will receive its first reading and may also receive a second reading on the same day. Once this Bill is approved, there will be no obstacle left to stop the UK leaving the EU by January 31, as Boris Johnson has planned.