Corbyn’s talk on wrong track

JUST a small grumble about Jeremy Corbyn’s conference speech this week. He seems to be falling into the same trap as Boris Johnson - seeming to think he wins over the North by promising to build faster railways between Manchester and Liverpool.

Mr Corbyn’s promises go further than Mr Johnson’s, as he’s promising faster trains between all the major Northern cities.

But to this column, the promise of faster trains between cities which are already well connected compared to other parts of the North, often sounds like a famous episode of the Simpsons where everyone gets excited about a monorail being built.

The monorail wasn’t needed, but was an attention grabber. It also ended badly.

Are people in Rossendale, or Hyndburn, going to get excited by the thought of even more for the cities of the North which is where money meant to show politicians care about the North always goes?

Our political leaders in Westminster would be much smarter convincing voters they had plans to solve the gap between areas like Rossendale and Manchester, rather than assuming we all get excited about yet more money for trains to Manchester.

Promises of infrastructure investment won’t sway elections away from the cities. Strong local campaigning on issues which really impact local people, might.

And with the Brexit Party pledging to stand against Jake Berry at the next election, the next vote - which may come sooner rather than later - suddenly has an air of ‘all to play for’ about it for Labour.