Graham, Tom and Ian

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Greater Manchester Lib Dems support MEN #NorthernPowercut campaign

by Lib Dem team on 3 July, 2015

Greater Manchester Liberal Democrats are giving their support to the Manchester Evening News’ #NorthernPowercut campaign, calling for the government to prioritise funding the electrification of the Manchester to Leeds railway line ahead of putting more money into London with Crossrail 2.

Cllr Sue Derbyshire, Lib Dem leader of Stockport Council, said “With the Lib Dems in the previous government, ministers decided it was the right thing to invest in these major, and much needed, infrastructure projects. As soon as the Lib Dems are gone, Osborne has started back-peddling and it’s the schemes in the North that are being scrapped.”

northern powercut

Cllr Howard Sykes, leader of the Lib Dem group on Oldham Council and member of the TfGM Committee, said “A failure to invest in electrification will mean that the much-vaunted Northern Powerhouse will be held back as we shall lack the modern rail infrastructure that is needed. It is a joke that you can be in London nearly as quickly as the short journey from Manchester to Leeds takes on old rolling stock.”

The Northern Powerhouse needs to be more than just a slogan – it’s about making the transport links between the great cities of the north good enough that they can effectively work together and start to attract the sort of inward investment that London does, leading to more jobs and more prosperity.

Cllr Tim Pickstone, leader of the Lib Dem group on Bury Council said “Previous governments, both Labour and Conservative, have failed to invest in transport infrastructure in the North, instead showering money onto London. Osborne has an opportunity to change that and the people of the north will not forgive him if he fails to take it.”
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   1 Comment

One Response

  1. gb says:

    Far better to scrap HS2 and use some of the enormous cost released to restore, enhance and develop our ‘classic’ main line and local rail systems.

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