The Government’s lack of commitment to new rail infrastructure is “negligent” and “insulting” to the people of the North of England, Andy Burnham has said.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester called on Rachel Reeves to use her Budget next week to give the green light to both Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) and an alternative to the cancelled northern leg of HS2 .

“Ten years ago a previous government promised us new north-south and east-west rail line,” Burnham said in a speech to launch the Greater Manchester “Good Growth Fund” in Stockport. New Feature

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“Now we have no such commitments. It is more than unacceptable. It is negligent to the needs of our region and insulting to its people.”

Labour has given repeated assurances that it will

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