• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Meet the Team
  • Contact us
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
  • JOBS
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
  • JOBS
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Politics

‘We’ve been played for fools’: Northern Powerhouse Rail plans to be scaled back

"He lied to us. They all did, to all of us. This Government has borrowed our faith and played us for fools," James Mitchinson said.

Jack Peat by Jack Peat
2021-11-15 07:58
in Politics
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

MPs have expressed frustration over reports that rail upgrade plans for the North of England are to be watered down.

According to the i, the Government is to scale back ambitions for Northern Powerhouse Rail, with proposals to deliver it through track upgrades rather than building a new line.

Shadow transport secretary Jim McMahon said ministers were attempting to “quietly back out” of infrastructure schemes that they had “committed to dozens of times”.

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said Northern Powerhouse Rail – the name given to proposals for an east-to-west high-speed train line across the North – had been “a fraud”.

He lied to us. They all did, to all of us. This Government has borrowed our faith and played us for fools. https://t.co/dbipjmBFXd

— James Mitchinson (@JayMitchinson) November 14, 2021

The PA news agency understands that Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is likely to announce the results of the integrated rail plan this week.

The Sunday Times suggested it will contain upgrades across the North and the Midlands, designed to slash journey times from Leeds to Sheffield, Crewe to Manchester and from Birmingham to East Midlands Parkway, which is south of Nottingham.

But the i said the the plan in the North will only commit to investing into existing Transpennine route upgrade proposals rather than build a new high-speed route via Bradford, which would also create increased capacity.

RelatedPosts

Column Johnson wrote on Brown comes back to haunt him

Minister who quit after 36 hours could be entitled to £17k severance payment

Prime minister Boris Johnson to resign

Zahawi’s ultimate act of betrayal: New chancellor pens letter to PM urging him to ‘go now’

Naz Shah, Labour MP for Bradford West, said: “This is Boris pulling the whole damn rug from under our feet and ripping up the floor behind him!”

Conservative Party conference pledges

The alleged decision comes despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledging his “commitment to Northern Powerhouse Rail” shortly after entering Downing Street in 2019.

As recently as the Conservative Party conference in Manchester last month, Mr Johnson said in his leader’s speech that the Government “will do Northern Powerhouse Rail, we will link up the cities of the Midlands and the North”.

Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake, who represents Thirsk and Malton in North Yorkshire, told the i the trimmed back plans indicated the Government was “not willing to put our money where our mouth is”.

THIS 👇🏽

A senior civil servant said:”This is a half-arsed attempt at building a high-speed rail network in the North.

No mate

This is Boris pulling the whole damn rug from under our feet & ripping up the floor behind him! 😳#BradfordDeservesBetter #TheNorthDeservesBetter https://t.co/icbsmSd8gS

— Naz Shah MP 💙 (@NazShahBfd) November 14, 2021

“Laughable”

Mr McMahon said: “It’s laughable that the Government expects people in the North to be grateful for some half-baked and repackaged plans, as they attempt to quietly back out of promises made on the vital major infrastructure projects those communities need so badly.

“Failure to deliver on HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail – schemes ministers have committed to dozens of times – is not only insulting, it is actively holding back investment and opportunity that could benefit millions of people.”

A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: “Work is continuing on the integrated rail plan.

“We will publish it shortly and do not comment on speculation.”

Related: UK patients die or come to ‘severe harm’ because of hospital delays -report

Tags: headlinenorthern powerhouse

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.

The shop can be found here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending on TLE

  • All
  • trending
Abdollah

‘Rescue us’: Afghan teacher begs UK to help him escape Taliban

CHOMSKY: “If Corbyn had been elected, Britain would be pursuing a much more sane course”

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

More from TLE

Tories could scrap planned rise to living wage because of Covid costs

Parliament to gift ornate lamps costing £175,000 for Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Kick them when down? Charity slams Govt over proposed fines for beggars

In Pictures: Comic Con fans dress to impress

The times they are a changing

Monster Crash – Brexit Halloween with the Ghost Tories

Gran in line for payout after suffering horrific injuries after being trampled by camels

UK could slow climate clock by converting animal farmland to forest and still grow enough protein

Cannes 2022 Review: Godland

Killswitch Engage celebrate 20 years with comprehensive timeline for fans

JOBS

FIND MORE JOBS

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.