PM committed to investing in North transport

Campaigners call for cash to match words

THE PRIME Minister has re-affirmed her commitment to investing billions of pounds in the region’s transport links, during a PMQs which saw the Government come under fire for its “unacceptable” offer on public sector pay.

Responding to questions about historic under-investment in northern transport, Theresa May yesterday assured Yorkshire MPs that she did not see infrastructure spending as “a choice between North and South”.

Her comments build on similar assurances by Chancellor Philip Hammond and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, the latter of whom claimed it was his priority to make sure the region gets the road and rail links “[it] needs to thrive”.

However, campaigners are calling on the Government to demonstrate this commitment by matching its words with extra funding.

Pressure has been mounting on Ministers to inject more money into northern transport infrastructure since the announcement earlier this year that rail electrification schemes in the region had been scrapped.

The situation was compounded when just days later the Government expressed renewed support for London’s £30bn Crossrail 2 project.

This met with an angry backlash from MPs and local leaders, who accused the Government of abandoning its Northern Powerhouse agenda.

It also sparked fresh calls for Ministers to devolve more control over transport spending to local authorities so the region has the resources “to shape its own transport destiny”.

Raising the issue in the Commons at this week’s PMQs, the Conservative MP for Shipley, Philip Davies, spoke of his constituents’ concerns that “Yorkshire has not had its fair share of the transport infrastructure cake... especially compared with London and the South-East”.

He called on the Prime Minister to “promise to significantly increase the proportion of transport infrastructure that is spent in the North... and Yorkshire in particular” over the course of this Parliament.

Replying, Mrs May highlighted the £13bn already set aside for transport projects in the region – “the largest [amount] in Government history”. She went on to stress that the Government remains “committed to ensuring that the whole country gets the transport infrastructure it needs”, adding: “I reassure him that it is not about making a choice between North and South.”

Key transport projects in the Yorkshire region include the second leg of the multi-billion HS2 scheme – due for completion in 2033 – and plans for a high speed rail link between Leeds and Manchester.

The think tank, IPPR North, has been running a campaign to get ministers to commit to prioritising these schemes, and to pledge £59bn in “catch-up cash” to address the funding gap between the North and the capital.

Responding to the Prime Minister’s comments, IPPR researcher Luke Raikes urged the Government to put its money where its mouth is. He said: “While we welcome the government paying attention to this issue, [it] must announce new money in the Autumn Budget for transport... We need to hear a real commitment to the fresh billions to get northern infrastructure to where it needs to be for the country to prosper.”

Mr Davies said: “I think the Prime Minister made some of the right noises but what is important is what is done rather than what is said. I will certainly do all I can to keep their feet to the fire on this crucial issue.”

It is not about making a choice between North and South. Prime Minister Theresa May on transport investment.