The TUC and Northern Powerhouse Partnership (NPP) have today called for a new “cross-party consensus” on investment in essential infrastructure.
The call follows a crunch meeting of regional leaders, unions and industry heads in Manchester to discuss the future of Northern Powerhouse Rail.
In a joint statement issued after the summit, TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak and NPP Chief Executive Henri Murison say immediate action is needed to upgrade rail networks in the region.
“Northern Powerhouse Rail must be delivered in full and on an accelerated timetable.
“This means the completion of upgrades which can be delivered most quickly.
“However, we also need to build more resilience and capacity into the rail network through new lines including key sections between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport, Liverpool and West Yorkshire, Huddersfield and Bradford and the Leamside Line.”
Highlighting the need for a new cross-party consensus on infrastructure investment, Nowak and Murison say:
“If we are serious about reducing regional inequalities, then we must remove barriers to infrastructure investment.
“Fiscal rules should be reformed to take more account of long-term economic development and there should be a wider range of funding options to get projects off the ground.
“Low productivity will drive up debt over coming decades. Only by investing in what is essential for our country can we avoid this spiralling to be worse, and worse.
“We need a cross-party consensus that investing in infrastructure is essential for our economy and the country. It is vital for driving growth and productivity, and for delivering better jobs and wages in every corner of the UK.”
Calling for a long-term and collaborative approach to delivering key projects, Nowak and Murison say:
“We cannot afford to be held back. Vital upgrades should not be blown off course by short-term political decisions.
“It is normal in other leading economies for unions, government, employers, and other important stakeholders to sit down together regularly and plan 20-30 years ahead.
“We need the same collaborative approach to industrial strategy here. We owe it to future generations to make the right, long-term decisions now.”
