Mr Sunak announces he will serve in local cabinet as Local Transport Fund

Rishi Sunak will hold a cabinet meeting in Yorkshire and the Humber to decide how the government will divide transport funding from the abandoned HS2 project across regional councils.

Ahead of his visit, the Prime Minister said he had “clear plans to level up our country” by investing in projects across the North and Midlands.

This comes as Transport Secretary Mark Harper is expected to announce details of the allocation of local transport funding following the previously announced abolition of the HS2 northern section, leaving it up to councils to decide how best to spend it. become.

The meeting will be the first time Mr Sunak has held regional ministers outside of the conference season since taking office in 2022.

The last time ministers met outside London was for emergency talks at last year’s Conservative party conference, ahead of the prime minister’s announcement that the government’s flagship high-speed rail project would be scaled back.

Speaking at the party’s annual general meeting in Manchester, the city most directly hit by the changes, Mr Sunak said after months of speculation that HS2 plans north of Birmingham would be scrapped amid rising costs. I admitted that it would be.

The Chancellor promised that “every penny” of the £36 billion previously earmarked for the scheme would be reinvested into hundreds of new transport projects.

Mr Sunak is expected to say at Monday’s cabinet meeting that ministers and MPs should “hold local authorities to account” to ensure that the Local Transport Fund is “spent appropriately”, according to Downing Street.

The Transport Secretary will also update ministers on the delivery of Network North, the Government’s comprehensive plan to replace the northern leg of HS2.

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The Prime Minister and the Government will meet with communities, businesses and organizations across the North and Central Regions to discuss the Fund’s priorities and how the region can best benefit from it.

Mr Sunak said: “Local transport is at the heart of connecting our communities and this Government has clear plans to level up the country by strengthening the transport networks people need across the UK.

“The long-term decision to reallocate funding from HS2 has brought about significant changes to the way we invest in transport infrastructure across the country.

“This gives us the opportunity to put £36 billion into projects that deliver real change, benefiting more people, in more places, and faster.

“Tomorrow marks a historic moment for the North and the Midlands. We are investing billions of dollars directly across the region through the first-of-its-kind Regional Transport Fund. can invest in the transportation priorities that matter most to them and their communities.”

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “Tomorrow’s multi-billion pound investment is unprecedented and will transform small cities, towns and rural communities across the North and Midlands.”

“This funding increase is only possible because this Government is prepared to take tough decisions, such as reallocating funding from stage two of HS2.

“We remain steadfast in our plans to strengthen transportation networks and level up communities across the country.”

Labor branded it a “knee-jerk policy reversal” and said communities were “sick and tired” of empty promises.

“The Tory back-packet plan promised road extensions that didn’t exist, tram lines that were already built and re-announcement of projects promised 10 years ago,” Shadow Transport Secretary Louise said.・Mr. Haig said.

“Communities are tired of the empty promises of this failed Conservative government. After 14 years of constant failure, it is clear that the Tories’ appalling incompetence is holding this country back. .

“Labour will work with local leaders, mayors, businesses and trade unions to deliver a credible and innovative rail and transport infrastructure investment program to improve connectivity across the North.”