£3.6 billion boost pledged for 'left behind towns'

Prime Minister Boris Johnson used a speech in Manchester to pledge a £3.6 billion funding boost for the country’s left behind towns.

As part of his speech, the new leader of the Conservative party revealed new plans for a rail link between Manchester and Leeds, which he said would help ‘turbo charge’ regional growth and match what was done with Crossrail in London. As such, the new trans-Pennine rail link is expected to shorten journey times and offer more space for passengers.

Andy McDonald, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, commented: “This project has been announced time and time again by the Conservatives. With Boris Johnson’s staggering failure to build a bridge across the Thames and an estuary airport I’m not confident he’ll be able to deliver better train services between Leeds and Manchester.

“What we really need is Labour’s Crossrail for the North, from Liverpool to Hull and up to the North East to unleash the economic potential of the region. Just upgrading the rail between Leeds and Manchester – the same distance as the Central line on the London Underground – won’t achieve that. And I want that to start now, with improvements that can happen in the short term, not just big engineering schemes that will take years.”

Johnson, who insisted that politicians had failed people in the North, also told the crowd that cash had been put aside to boost broadband and fight crime.

James Jamieson, chairman of the Local Government Association, said:  “We support the measures announced today to boost cities, towns and regions - this is good news for local communities and businesses seeking to improve their prospects. It recognises that democratically elected local councils have a key role to play in delivering better transport links, digital connectivity, housing, and all the important infrastructure like parks and libraries that creates strong communities and economies.

“The Prime Minister has rightly acknowledged the need to bring decision-making closer to local people. It is vital that communities in all parts of the country have access to the benefits of devolution. When councils have the freedoms and funding to make local decisions, there is clear and significant evidence that outcomes improve and the country gets better value for money.

“We look forward to working with the Prime Minister on how devolution to those areas outside our major cities can deliver great communities and improve the lives of residents. Councils are at the heart of their communities and are best positioned to deliver. However, with councils facing a funding gap of £8 billion by 2025, the Spending Review also needs to provide councils with the resources to ensure delivery of vital services keep pace with newly regenerated town centres that local communities can enjoy.”

Martin Hill, County Councils Network spokesman for devolution, and leader of Lincolnshire County Council, said: “The new Prime Minister’s commitment to a renewed drive for devolution is welcome after the agenda fell by the wayside under the previous administration. Counties’ ambition for genuinely devolved powers and fresh resource still burns brightly and if the shackles are taken off then we have much to offer the new government in helping solve some of its biggest domestic issues, not least in housing, care, and economic growth.

“The major sticking point for many counties under the previous government was the requirement for a metro mayor in return for a full suite of devolved powers. Whilst this model can work in large cities and urban areas, there is little evidence it is suitable for large and diverse county areas, with rural residents showing little appetite for county mayors. We would encourage this new government to take this on board and ensure there is no mayoral requirement for a ‘full’ devolution deal.

“We would also encourage ministers to publish the Common Devolution Framework as soon as practical so local authorities know what is required to secure a devolution deal for their areas. Counties, as strategic authorities in their areas, want to work with the new government on a fresh devolution drive which is successful – but it cannot be a one size fits all model.”