RACHEL Reeves has promised to provide a major boost for the UK’s train network – with a fresh vow to pump in billions more into new lines and upgrades on key routes.
The Chancellor delivered the first Spending Review in nearly four years this afternoon – vowing to splurge a mega £300 billion into the likes of the NHS, defence and travel.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves delivers her Government’s spending review[/caption]
Reeves’ review was the first in nearly four years by a UK government[/caption]
A train arriving at New Street Station in Birmingham[/caption]
Follow The Sun’s live blog on the Spending Review here.
However, she has not provided a clear plan for how Labour will pay for it.
In a clear tack to the Left, she used her Spending Review to defend higher taxes and borrowing to fund the cash shower.
Referring to travel expansions, she said it was the Government’s intention to “undo a generation of underfunding and neglect” under the Tories, 12 months on from Labour’s General Election victory.
Speaking in the Commons today after the weekly PMQs, Ms Reeves said it is the government’s ambition to “unlock the potential of all parts of Britain”.
“We are going further: investing in major rail projects to connect our towns and cities.”
The Spending Review includes:
- A pledge to end the use of migrant hotels by the next election
- Confirmation that nine million pensioners will get the winter fuel allowance this year
- Free school meals for half a million more children
- An extra £39billion over the next decade for social housing
- A £15billion boost to transport to “properly connect” Britain’s towns and cities
- £22billion investment in research and development and £2billion in Artificial Intelligence
- A £30billion injection in clean energy including £14billion for nuclear energy
- A rise in departmental budgets by 2.3 per cent a year totalling £190billion more than the Tories
- The Defence budget hiked to 2.6 per cent of GDP by 2027
She referred back to the Autumn Budget in October last year when she announced funding for the Transpennine Route Upgrade.
“The backbone of rail travel in the North… linking York, Leeds and Manchester… with a quarter of the route expected to be electrified by this summer,” the Chancellor continued.
“I know the commitment of the HFs, the Members for Huddersfield, York Outer, and Colne Valley to this issue …and today, I can announce a further £3.5bn of investment for that Route.
“But my ambition and the ambition of people across the North is greater still …and so in the coming weeks I will set out this government’s plans to take forward our ambitions on Northern Powerhouse Rail.”
Ms Reeves went on to say: “I have also heard the representations of my HFs, the Members for Milton Keynes North, Milton Keynes Central, and Buckingham and Bletchley.
“And I can tell the House today to connect Oxford and Cambridge… and to back Milton Keynes’ leading tech sector… I am providing a further £2.5bn for the continued delivery of East-West rail.”
She added: “On a matter I know is of great importance to HF Members for Lichfield, Birmingham Northfield, and Birmingham Erdington I can announce today that I am providing funding for the Midlands Rail Hub… the region’s biggest and most ambitious rail improvement scheme for generations…”
This will strengthen connections Birmingham, across the West Midlands and into Wales.
The Chancellor told the Speaker: “For 14 years, the Conservatives failed the people of Wales. Those days are over.
“Following representations from my RHF the Welsh Secretary, the First Minister of Wales and Welsh Labour MPs… I am pleased to announce £445m for railways in Wales over 10 years, including funding for Padeswood Sidings and Cardiff West Junction.
“That, Mr Speaker, is the difference made by two Labour governments… working together to undo a generation of underfunding and neglect.”
