Boris Johnson defends lack of rail spending in Wales with promise of ‘fantastic agenda’ to improve links
The Prime Minister has defended the lack of rail spending in Wales by promising a “fantastic agenda” of improvements.
According to research by Cardiff University, the Welsh Government will receive less money to spend on transport “for decades” thanks to HS2 being designated an England and Wales project – despite not entering Wales at all. The total underspend on Welsh rail as a result amounts to near £5bn.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Newport East MP Jessica Morden challenged Boris Johnson on the ack of infrastructure in Wales, pointing to an article in the Western Mail.
“Wales has 11% of the UK rail network, yet receives only 2% of UK rail enhancement funding and, as reported on WalesOnline, will be denied billions of consequential funding from HS2,” the Labour MP said.
“Having under-delivered on rail in the north, and having under-delivered on rail in Wales, why should anyone trust this Government to deliver on their promises?”
Boris Johnson however pointed to the Union Connectivity Review published last week, which promised a major overhaul of the transport connections across the north and south of Wales and England.
“I am afraid that she has completely failed to look at what Sir Peter Hendy set out in his Union connectivity review,” the Prime Minister answered.
“It is a fantastic agenda for change and improvement, particularly in Wales and particularly on the north Welsh corridor where the railway links deserve to be improved and will be improved under this Government.”
The Union Connectivity Review plan will aim to bring about fast journey times across the border on the A55 and M4, faster journey times from England across the South Wales and North Wales main lines and rail links from the English Midlands to Cardiff.
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Boris Johnson ….. “fantastic agenda”….
Like this comment if you don’t believe him.
It seems that a total lack of geographic knowledge must be a requisite for being a Tory MP. How are improvements on the north coast and south coast Welsh railways going to help us in Wales? We in Aberystwyth would like to get to Swansea without having to spend all day on a train, not to mention the odd trip to Bangor. As George Monbiot wrote some while back for a piece in the Guardian (See his website) basically Welsh Railways have been run down to a residual network of the style one find in colonies where the purpose is… Read more »
I had a fantastic agenda once and it caused heartburn. Can I have the £550M under investment since 2010 instead please?
England is actively restoring railway lines axed under Beeching across its territory.
For us in Wales. This is all smokescreen a future promise that will and is never intended to be delivered.
Only independence can set us free from this union in perpetual subservience
To add to the list of Boris throw away quotes, such as ” get Brexit done” and ” oven ready deal” we now have ” fantastic agenda”. Well I have one for him, Boris, we know you are ” talking B****X.”.
They’ve been sh*tting on us for centuries, this is nothing new. It will never change, no matter what the likes of Johnson say. We need that £5bn but we wont get it. Ultimately, we need independence to kick start our country, a country with much potential. It’s our only way to prosperity – don’t believe what the charlatans and colonialist say in Westminster, we can prosper without them and we will.
Remember his promise to unblock the nostrils of the dragon with the Brynglas Tunnel / M4 relief road? It’s been two years since and nothing’s been done. No funding or plans drawn up. And there never will be. Boris Johnson can lie on live TV and his moronic supporters will cheer him on like American rednecks. I do not trust a word this cretinous clown says. He’s a pathological liar. Cannot be trusted. Has no morals. No back bone. No care for the rule of law, Welsh Law. Cannot speak without smirking. Who evades questioning by attempt a joke, before… Read more »
Is this “fantastic” in the sense of “fantasy”?
Fantastic bull#;+ters and where to find them… Westminster.
Liar.
Perhaps this snake oil vendor could give us the details and timetable of just one item of his fantastic agenda? No?….. Thought not….. But then he doesn’t have to because Englands huge majority of Empire nostalgists would vote for anybody or anything that has the state broadcaster in its corner and Ms Kreusberg thingymajig in its pocket. I never cease to wonder at how little taste the Saxon female displays in choice of men.
Annibyniaeth – Independence is the only possible solution to the maladies that Cymru is suffering as a result of that disgusting Tory so-called ‘government’ in Westminster.