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Critics doubt Boris Johnson can deliver new rail route pledge Boris Johnson pledges £3.6bn boost for deprived towns
(about 2 hours later)
Boris Johnson has come under fire over his plans to fund a new high-speed rail route between Leeds and Manchester, with critics warning they are not confident he will be able to deliver. Boris Johnson pledged a £3.6bn boost for deprived towns as he sought to shift the political spotlight from Brexit to the domestic agenda in his first major speech as prime minister.
The Conservative prime minister is pledging to back the trans-Pennine transport link which would cut journey times on the 36-mile route between the two cities from 50 minutes to less than half an hour. The Conservative leader said the proposal, which will initially support 100 towns, will help improve transport, broadband and cultural infrastructure. The commitment, announced on Saturday in Manchester, is part of Johnson’s strategy to “turbocharge” regional growth.
The commitment, announced today in a speech in Manchester, is part of the newly elected Tory leader’s strategy to “turbocharge” regional growth but opponents claim it is a reheated pledge that was first announced five years ago.
Johnson also promised to spend £3.6bn on deprived towns, representing an attempt to lure voters in Labour heartlands ahead of a potential general election. Supporting an initial 100 towns, Johnson said the fund would help improve transport, broadband and cultural infrastructure.
Giving his first major speech as prime minister, Johnson said: “I want to be the prime minister who does with Northern Powerhouse Rail what we did with Crossrail in London.
Boris Johnson 'ignored expert advice' over £1bn mayoral vanity projectsBoris Johnson 'ignored expert advice' over £1bn mayoral vanity projects
“And today I am going to deliver on my commitment to that vision with a pledge to fund the Leeds to Manchester route.” He also proposed to fund a new high-speed rail route between Leeds and Manchester but opponents claimed it was a reheated pledge that was first announced five years ago. Johnson is backing the trans-Pennine transport link, which would cut journey times on the 36-mile route between the two cities from 50 minutes to less than half an hour.
In front of a crowd of 100 at the city’s the Science and Industry Museum, Johnson explained that it would be up to local people to agree on the exact proposal they want. Officials had been tasked to “accelerate” their work on plans so they are ready for an autumn deal, he added. Johnson said: “I want to be the prime minister who does with northern powerhouse rail what we did with Crossrail in London. And today I am going to deliver on my commitment to that vision with a pledge to fund the Leeds to Manchester route.”
In front of a crowd of 100 at the city’s Science and Industry Museum, Johnson explained that it would be up to local people to agree on the exact proposal they want. Officials had been tasked to “accelerate” their work on plans so they would be ready for an autumn deal, he said.
Detailed plans about the proposed route will be published in the autumn after a review into HS2, Downing Street has said.Detailed plans about the proposed route will be published in the autumn after a review into HS2, Downing Street has said.
Johnson said he wanted to “inject some pace” into the project to “unlock jobs and boost growth”.Johnson said he wanted to “inject some pace” into the project to “unlock jobs and boost growth”.
But Andy McDonald, Labour’s shadow transport secretary, has hit back against the prime minister, saying he is “not confident” Johnson will be able to improve rail services given his track record. But Andy McDonald, the shadow transport secretary, said he was “not confident” Johnson would be able to improve rail services given his track record.
“This project has been announced time and time again by the Conservatives,” he said. “With Boris Johnson’s staggering failure to build a bridge across the Thames and an estuary airport I’m not confident he’ll be able to deliver better train services between Leeds and Manchester. “This project has been announced time and time again by the Conservatives,” he said. “With Boris Johnson’s staggering failure to build a bridge across the Thames and an estuary airport, I’m not confident he’ll be able to deliver better train services between Leeds and Manchester.
“What we really need is Labour’s Crossrail for the north, from Liverpool to Hull and up to the north-east to unleash the economic potential of the region. “What we really need is Labour’s Crossrail for the north, from Liverpool to Hull and up to the north-east to unleash the economic potential of the region. Just upgrading the rail between Leeds and Manchester – the same distance as the Central line on the London Underground – won’t achieve that.
“Just upgrading the rail between Leeds and Manchester – the same distance as the Central line on the London Underground – won’t achieve that.
“And I want that to start now, with improvements that can happen in the short term, not just big engineering schemes that will take years.”“And I want that to start now, with improvements that can happen in the short term, not just big engineering schemes that will take years.”
George Osborne first announced plans for a high-speed rail line connecting Manchester and Leeds in 2014 as part of the then chancellor’s Northern Powerhouse strategy. George Osborne first announced plans for a high-speed rail line connecting Manchester and Leeds in 2014 as part of the then chancellor’s ‘northern powerhouse’ strategy.
What has the ‘northern powerhouse’ actually done for the people of the north? | Chi OnwurahWhat has the ‘northern powerhouse’ actually done for the people of the north? | Chi Onwurah
Andy Burnham, Labour’s mayor of Greater Manchester, welcomed the funding pledge in an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today programme but cautioned: “Yes, Northern Powerhouse rail is more than Manchester-Leeds. Labour’s Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, welcomed the funding pledge in an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, but said: “Northern powerhouse rail is more than Manchester-Leeds. It is about connecting the whole north and it needs to be a new line rather than an upgrade, and I would certainly say that.
“It is about connecting the whole north and it needs to be a new line rather than an upgrade, and I would certainly say that.
“It’s just over five years since George Osborne came to Manchester and promised something very similar to what we’re about to hear today. And in that time, in those five years, rail services here have gone into reverse. So we will be looking very, very closely to see this announcement is followed up by real action.”“It’s just over five years since George Osborne came to Manchester and promised something very similar to what we’re about to hear today. And in that time, in those five years, rail services here have gone into reverse. So we will be looking very, very closely to see this announcement is followed up by real action.”
Henri Murison, the director of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership – an independent body representing the voices of business and civic leaders in the region – said: “This is a seminal moment for the north – the entire Northern Powerhouse concept is all about connecting the cities and towns of the north to boost productivity. Henri Murison, the director of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, an independent body representing the voices of business and civic leaders in the region, said: “This is a seminal moment for the north – the entire northern powerhouse concept is all about connecting the cities and towns of the north to boost productivity.
“Northern Powerhouse Partnership has been making a strong case for rebalancing our economy and it is heartening to see the first major policy announcement by the new prime minister is to benefit the north – matching the commitment of businesses already investing here.” “Northern Powerhouse Partnership has been making a strong case for rebalancing our economy and it is heartening to see the first major policy announcement by the new prime minister is to benefit the north, matching the commitment of businesses already investing here.”
Leeds City Council leader Judith Blake said: “Northern Powerhouse Rail is key to our vision for a modern, reliable transport network that delivers faster journey times, additional capacity and greater reliability and I hope the Government will now work with us to accelerate delivery of this project.” The Leeds city council leader, Judith Blake, said: “Northern powerhouse rail is key to our vision for a modern, reliable transport network that delivers faster journey times, additional capacity and greater reliability and I hope the government will now work with us to accelerate delivery of this project.”
Boris JohnsonBoris Johnson
Communities
Rail transportRail transport
LeedsLeeds
ManchesterManchester
North of EnglandNorth of England
North-south divideNorth-south divide
Transport
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