Burnham says North is ‘fed up of being second best’ after Tory HS2 backtrack

The government has been accused of 'betraying' Northern MPs after it scrapped a key part of rail plans

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has slammed the government's “second class” proposals to level up rail in the north. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday afternoon (November 18), Burnham said the north were "fed up" of being told the money has run out, saying the Tories treat the north as "second class". He described the plans as "a second class option" where the north "got a championship option when we needed premiership." The mayor of Greater Manchester has called on a free vote in parliament to reverse the Tories' decision - adding that people in the north don’t want to see their grandchildren consigned to being "second best citizens." Burnham was joined by several metro mayors including Steve Rotheram, the Labour mayor of Liverpool city region, Tracy Brabin the mayor of West Yorkshire and Jamie Driscoll, the Labour mayor of the North of Tyne. The group said making improvements in connectivity across the north is crucial for the "levelling up" agenda promised by the Tories and called on northern Tory MPs elected on that mandate to pressurise their government into delivering a better package. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed the eastern leg of Hs2 has been scrapped and plans for the northern powerhouse rail have been downgraded. Earlier on Thursday, Tory backbench MPs rallied against the prime minister, criticising the plans as "woefully inadequate", with one accusing him of “promising sunlight and delivering moonlight.” Prime Minister Boris Johnson has defended the cuts, insisting the new £96bn plans would deliver a better rail system. Labour say the plans constitute a "massive betrayal" of the north.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “Yesterday, Boris Johnson admitted he crashed the car when it came to sleaze.

“Today, he has derailed the trains.

“He’s taking the country absolutely nowhere.”

Labour analysis has shown transport spending per head is over double in London than it is in the North of England. The research also shows that with rail fares set to increase yet again, northern commuters such as those going between Chester and Manchester will be paying over £1,000 more a year than they did in 2010.

Johnson said the investment proved the government were committed to "levelling up across the country", with the new package promising to give people in the midlands and the north the type of commuter services people in the south east have become accustomed to.

Labour argue the pledge doesn't quite match the proposals.

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