The letter was signed by over 60 high-profile business leaders, and urged the Prime Minister to bring the long-delayed plans into reality.
Mark Casci, Head of Policy and Representation at the West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce (which signed the open letter), says that the project must go ahead – even if it means increased borrowing or taxation from the government.
“It needs to be seen as an investment – no one would bat an eyelid with a business borrowing from a bank to build a factory.”
“So it’s a similar thing – It’s not just about business people getting to meetings quicker, the economic prospects of the region are going to be enhanced.”
Source: Archie Simpson Tarling | All Rights ReservedThe open letter says that the investment would put 3.8 million more northerners within 90 minutes of four or more northern cities.
This comes after Labour did not make the expected announcement to back the project at their conference in Liverpool, and Rachel Reeves has refused to rule out tax rises and spending cuts for the budget expected on the 3rd October.
The plans to upgrade major northern rail routes were first proposed by the 2010 coalition Government in order to improve connectivity between major northern cities like Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield and Hull.
Source: Archie Simpson Tarling | All Rights ReservedCasci said, “It’ll improve social mobility and the general wealth of the area, which means more money for schools, hospitals and other local services.”
“The messaging needs to be different to HS2 – that was sold as a means to get to London quicker, when really it was about improving capacity on the network.”
“There needs to be competent financial leadership behind it too.”
“One sentence for the government – Back it and build it!”
Source: Archie Simpson Tarling | All Rights Reserved
Source: Archie Simpson Tarling | All Rights Reserved
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