Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Tom Gordon has hit out at the Labour Government for axing investment that would benefit northern commuters.
Billions of pounds of investment in Northern transport infrastructure were promised by the previous Government to make up for their decision to axe the Northern legs of HS2.
However it seems this funding will no longer be granted.
The Government will, however, be spending huge sums on infrastructure projects in the South.
In Parliament, Tom questioned the Government over the money the North was promised.
In response, Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport, said that the money would not be coming.
She labelled the proposed investment in northern transport as “fantasy money”.
In the previous decade, London has received seven times the amount of transport infrastructure per person than our area.
Tom Gordon said:
“I was stunned by the Transport Secretary’s answer.
“It seems like local taxpayers continue to fund infrastructure projects in the South, while getting very little in return.
“The Tories let down the North again and again, and now Labour are just playing to the same tune."
The Transport Secretary’s comments comes hot on the heels of the infrastructure announcement by Rachel Reeves, which gave little to the North.
It primarily focussed on reviving schemes that should have long since been implemented, whilst prioritising the South of England.
Mr Gordon added:
“Local people expected that when HS2 was cancelled, the promises made to improve Northern Transport infrastructure would be delivered.
“Yet again the North has been neglected and this is just not good enough.
“Whether it’s Labour or Tory, we hear big promises before elections and yet time and time again and we are let down.
“The Government says it wants to see growth in the North but won’t deliver the cash need to kickstart our economy.
“Labour need to think again on this and deliver on the promises made to the people of the North.
“We shouldn’t be forced to put up with Victorian era infrastructure in the 21st century!”
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