A new government campaign has been attacked by the mayors of Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire.
The ads announced that £235m is being used to improve London roads “made possible by rerouted HS2 funding.” This Department of Transport ads say that it is “A Network North Project.”
“Network North” seems to include everywhere – except the North. 🤷🏻♂️ pic.twitter.com/SBuqaIyMWR
— Andy Burnham (@AndyBurnhamGM) December 20, 2023
Burnham continued:
“A Parliament which began with promises of “levelling up” ends with money promised to the North being redirected back to London.
“Britain needs major change.”
I know the North isn’t a priority for this govt but seriously…??? 🤷♀️ pic.twitter.com/8GVHTWeXWW
— TracyBrabinWY (@TracyBrabin) December 20, 2023
Mark Harper, the Secretary of State for Transport responded:
Great that people are talking about our Network North plan.
— Mark Harper (@Mark_J_Harper) December 20, 2023
£19.8bn being invested in transport across the North.
£9.6bn being invested in transport across the Midlands.
£6.5bn being invested in transport across every other region of the country.https://t.co/KWVubYTB3M pic.twitter.com/5N448HfEJ6
“Every penny of the £19.8 billion committed to the Northern leg of HS2 will be reinvested in the North,” he added.
“Every penny of the £9.6 billion committed to the Midlands leg will be reinvested in the Midlands.
“The full £6.5 billion saved through our rescoped approach at Euston will be spread across every other region in the country.”
In October, the Prime Minister confirmed that the government was cancelling the Northern leg of the HS2 project, meaning the high speed rail network would now stop at Birmingham.
