Liz Truss is making an audacious bid for the votes of Northern Tories by promising a brand new rail scheme costing tens of billions – a challenge scrapped by her authorities simply eight months in the past.
Boris Johnson was accused of betrayal final November when he axed the deliberate high-speed connections throughout the Pennines, claiming they failed on “affordability and value for money”.
Now the Tory management race favorite – talking forward of the primary hustings in Leeds – has vowed to reinstate the challenge if she wins the race to be the subsequent prime minister.
Ms Truss argued the total Northern Powerhouse Rail scheme, operating from Liverpool to Leeds by way of Manchester and Bradford, would carry “growth and business investment” to the North.
“We will build the Northern Powerhouse Rail to link up communities and unlock potential across the North. That’s how we will bring better jobs to the North and address productivity,” she informed Northern newspapers.
Mr Johnson’s proposals slashed the funds for Northern Powerhouse Rail by £24.9bn, changing the unique imaginative and prescient for a brand new line with upgrades to present routes.
The overseas secretary has additionally stolen a march on her rival Rishi Sunak by grabbing the endorsement of the chair of the Northern Research Group of Conservative MPs.
Jake Berry informed the Yorkshire Post: “Liz is someone who gets things done, who has proved she can deliver and can be trusted to keep her promises.”
The backing is a blow to Mr Sunak, who’s supported by the influential Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen and hoped to be seen because the candidate most dedicated to the “levelling up” promise.
extra follows
Source: www.unbiased.co.uk