Middlesbrough MP and Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald says; “It is with complete incredulity I read comments by Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen that the Government has made "a strong commitment to investment in transport across the north" and that "other parts of the country look to us with envy".
“He really needs to look at the recently published IPPR North figures for projects involving public sector funding setting out the extraordinary imbalance in transport expenditure. This reveals a spend of some £1943 per person in London and way down at the bottom of the table the North East at £222 per person.
“Why on earth should anyone envy such a rotten transport investment deal for us here in the North East”, said Mr McDonald. “If Mr Houchen thinks this a strong commitment to the North by his Government, I shudder to think how bad it would have to get for him to be critical.
“Instead of trotting out his party line, he should get behind the four asks in the Tees Valley Strategic Transport Plan that existed long before he was elected and the demands of our local councils for a fairer share of transport investment”.
