‘Grayling rail snub showing contempt for North’
Transport chief fails to attend strategy debate
TRANSPORT SECRETARY Chris Grayling was last night accused of showing “contempt for the North” after he failed to attend a House of Commons debate calling for a more ambitious strategy for the region’s road and rail links.
The debate, organised by the Hull MP Diana Johnson, was seen as an opportunity to draw a line under a summer of negative headlines for Mr Grayling’s department following the backlash over its decision to scrap a long-overdue rail electrification scheme.
MPs from across the House lined up to condemn the historic lack of investment in Yorkshire’s infrastructure and express concern about recent revelations about the Government’s plans for Transport for the North (TfN).
They also expressed “disappointment” at the decision to send a junior Minister in Mr Grayling’s place, with one senior Labour MP describing it as a sign that the Government had given up on efforts to provide leadership in the region .
“This (debate) is particularly important in the light of the reduced powers the Secretary of State has given Transport for the North while also slashing the electrification programme,” said shadow transport minister Rachael Maskell, MP for York Central.
“The Secretary of State’s contempt for the North in putting a junior Transport Minister in as his replacement demonstrates that this Government has abandoned any ambition to provide any leadership in the North.
“Only Labour’s transport plan will now deliver for the North. (We) understand that for industrial growth you need to invest in an integrated transport system, which devolves decision-making under a national framework.”
Opening last night’s session, the Labour MP for Kingston Upon Hull North, Diana Johnson, also spoke of her “disappointment” at Mr Grayling’s absence. Citing the decision to scrap the East Midlands electrification scheme and the subsequent question marks over the upgrade of the transPennine route, she told MPs that she had pushed for a debate in the hope of securing an opportunity “to hold the Secretary of State to account for these plans”.
She went on to call for a “bolder” transport strategy for the North, setting out five commitments for Ministers. This included granting TfN similar powers to Transport for London, and making a long-term commitment to re-balancing regional investment. Other Yorkshire MPs called on Ministers to help the region unleash its economic potential through improved transport links, with many emphasising the need for cross-party collaboration on the issue.
Speaking on behalf of the DfT, Transport Minister Jesse Norman questioned some of the funding comparisons made by MPs, but reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to helping the North “flourish”. Responding to the criticisms of Mr Grayling, a DFT spokesperson said it was “nonsense” to suggest his absence was a “snub”.
IT WAS, frankly, insulting to Yorkshire – and the North – that Transport Secretary Chris Grayling snubbed last night’s House of Commons debate about the region’s creaking infrastructure.
This exchange, led by Hull North MP Diana Johnson, was confirmed as early as October 31 – time for the Cabinet Minister’s own diary to be rearranged if necessary to accommodate his Parliamentary duties.
Mr Grayling’s decision to abdicate responsibility, and ask his very junior Minister Jesse Norman, MP for Hereford, to respond in his place, was all the more unforgivable because the Transport Secretary still managed to deliver a speech in London yesterday about driverless cars.
Two conclusions can be drawn from this dereliction of duty that came as no surprise – either he has not got the political willpower to face down his critics or he does not truly grasp the public’s anger here about how the Government is already talking up the prospect of a second Crossrail scheme in London when its commitment to the Northern Powerhouse is far from assured.
This debate, after all, was called because Yorkshire MPs wanted to question Mr Grayling about an article that he wrote for The Yorkshire Post in August when he challenged the region to sort out its own transport difficulties after years of underinvestment.
They wanted to know the rationale for downgrading plans to electrify two key railway lines and why Transport for the North, the body tasked with delivering infrastructure improvements, will not have the powers previously promised. As this newspaper revealed last week, its remit extends to ‘advising’ Mr Grayling, who retains the right to veto any plans put forward.
As such, Mr Grayling’s buck-passing perpetuates the view that he can’t be trusted to give Yorkshire the top-class railway infrastructure that London – and his Epsom constituents – enjoy.