Analysis by think-tank the IPPR found the North of England would have had an extra £140billion in transport cash if it was treated the same as London under the Tories
The North of England would have had an extra £140billion of transport cash if it was treated the same as London under the Tories, damning figures show.
New analysis reveals the Government spent £1,183 per person in the capital between 2010 and 2023 – compared to just £486 in the north. And it was even worse in the Midlands, where the figure was £455.
Marcus Johns, senior research fellow at think-tank IPPR North – which crunched the numbers – said: “Today’s figures are concrete proof that promises made to the North over the last decade were hollow. It was a decade of deceit.
“We are 124 years on from the end of Queen Victoria’s reign – yet the North is still running on infrastructure built during her reign – while our transport chasm widens. This isn’t London bashing – Londoners absolutely deserve investment.
“But £1,182 per person for London and £486 for northerners? The numbers don’t lie – this isn’t right.”
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The data shows £83billion of Government cash was spent on transport projects in the north since 1999/2000. The region with the lowest amount of investment over the period was the East Midlands with just £355 spent per person.
Last week Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a £15.6 billion package for mayoral authorities to use on public transport projects across the North and Midlands. This cash is expected to include funding to extend the metros in Tyne and Wear, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands. There will also be a renewed tram network in South Yorkshire and a new mass transit system in West Yorkshire.
Labour’s Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood said: “This report lays bare the way in which successive Conservative governments have short-changed areas outside of London and the south east, denying millions of people access to jobs, education and opportunity.
“ Labour promised we would bring growth to every part of the country and we’ve put our money where our mouth is. As part of our Plan for Change we’ve announced more than £15 billion for local transport in England’s city regions, delivering the biggest ever investment in buses, trams and local rail.”