Rachel Reeves has promised to end years of rail misery with a £45billion boost to transform lives in the North of England. Northern Powerhouse Rail, repeatedly delayed by the Tories, will feature rail lines to and from Manchester, and major upgrades to infrastructure in West Yorkshire.
At a major press conference in Leeds, the Chancellor outlined how this can transform northern cities, create jobs, and deliver a £40bn a year boost to the British economy.
She told reporters she understood the ⁘cynicism⁘ of voters after broken promises under the Tories - but insisted Northern Powerhouse Rail would be in Labour's next manifesto.
Rachel Reeves clarifies that ⁘1.1bn has been released from the current spending review to go towards the ⁘45bn plans She said the next spending review will mean more money going towards the scheme, declaring: ⁘If we're going to, as I've just committed, feel the benefits in the early 2030s, there better be some money committed at the Spending Review.
I'm the Chancellor, I'm telling you there will be.⁘
Rachel Reeves says: ⁘I've been very clear that there is a package to come on top of what we've already done for pubs, and we'll be announcing that in the days ahead.⁘
The Mirror asks Rachel Reeves whether a generation could be left behind given a lot of the rail plans won't materialise until the 2030s.
She adds: ⁘I've been an MP for almost 16 years.
