Rochdale MP, Tony Lloyd, has slammed Conservative Governments Minister for breaking their promises to deliver HS2 to Leeds and Northern Powerhouse rail.
Tony said, “It’s people in Rochdale who will feel the brunt of the Conservatives’ broken promises, empty words and lack of action whilst at the same time being squeezed by the Conservatives’ tax hikes and rising bills.
Rochdalians will likely face a record increase in rail fares in a few months time, paying more than 50% more to get to work than a decade ago.
Instead of taking action on the cost of living crisis affecting us here in Rochdale, and fixing the transport problems they created, the Government are looking the other way, trapping us in a cycle of regional inequality, high tax and low growth.
It’s laughable and insulting to expect people to be satisfied with watered down schemes and crumbs from the table from a Prime Minister who has gone back on his word at the first opportunity.”
Labour has analysed broken Conservative promises on rail in the north. At a time when taxes rise to their highest level is seventy years and families in the North are already facing hikes in National insurance, council tax and income tax, the Government is cutting spending on:
• ‘Northern Power Rail’, ‘Crossrail for the North’ or ‘HS3’ as it is sometimes called has been re-announced or recommitted to in over 60 Government press releases over the last seven years yet there has been zero spades in the ground.
• Transport spending per head is over double in London than it is in the North of England.
• Rail fares are set to skyrocket by their highest increase in a decade next year, meaning commuters such as those going between Chester and Manchester will be paying over £1000 more a year than they did in 2010.
In Bradford, where the Government look set to cancel plans to build a new railway, those earning the median average earnings for the area are set to pay £310 more next year than they would have if Chancellor Sunak hadn’t put up their taxes.
