Tom Gordon MP: “The Government is leaving the North behind – yet again”

Tom Gordon has criticised the Government for “abandoning the North” in Rachel Reeves’ latest speech, which promised investment in a large number of projects in the South of England, including the very controversial Heathrow third runway. 

The only project promised new funding or support in the North was the potential redevelopment of the area around Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium. All the other direct announcements, where they related to new projects, were in the South of England – namely, a third runway for Heathrow, funding for the East-West rail link from Oxford to Cambridge, and funding for a “British Silicon Valley” in that same area. 

Other funding for the North focussed on theoretical projects or ideas that have been around for decades, such as electrification of the Bolton-Wigan line, Transpennine route upgrades, and improvement works at Bradford Forster Square. Of these, only Transpennine route upgrade has seen any work done. Reopening Doncaster Sheffield airport was also floated. 

With airfreight being one of the main concerns with enlarging Heathrow, some have pointed out that improving or investing in Teeside airport might be a better alternative. That airport is already well connected to the rail network, giving good potential for rail freight to me moved from that airport around the country whilst lowering emissions. 

Commenting, Tom said: 

“The Government is leaving the North behind – yet again. 

“We need to see investment across the country, particularly in the North. If the South gets new rail projects, why not the North? Why can’t we reinstate HS2 to Leeds and Manchester, the two parts of HS2 that would have offered higher returns than London to Birmingham? 

“Yet again, the Government is abandoning the North. We have a Home Secretary and Chancellor from just down the road in West Yorkshire, and yet they’ve failed to even bother trying to deliver for Yorkshire. Their constituents will be wondering why they voted for them. 

“The proposed Northern investment is just the resurrection of old projects that previous governments sat on their hands over. We need bold new projects for the North that make the most of it’s potential, not just obvious minor projects that should have happened decades ago.

“We also seem to be ignoring environmental concerns. If we want to accommodate more freight and international travel, why can’t we improve rail services to Europe? Why can’t we have international rail services from Northern and Scottish cities instead of a new runway? Why can’t the investment for a third runway go into Northern airports instead? The Government’s plans are foolish, and will, yet again, leave most of the country behind. It’s simply unacceptable.”

ENDS