PRIME Minister Boris Johnson is being urged to deliver promises on investment into northern transport infrastructure, as the stark gap between funding for London and the North is revealed.

IPPR North has analysed the Government’s planned transport spending and says that unless investment in the Northern Powerhouse goes ahead, London is set to receive almost three times more per person than the North - and seven times times more per person than in Yorkshire and the Humber. The think tank says the capital will receive £3,636 per person, in comparison to just £511 per person in the county - the least of all England’s regions.

It has also analysed a separate set of Government figures, which show the transport spending gap between the capital and the North grew over the last decade - and if the North had received the same per person as London in that time, it would have received £66 billion more than it did.

Report author Luke Raikes has today called on the new Prime Minister to “turn years of Northern Powerhouse rhetoric into reality” by taking urgent action to invest in the North and devolve powers to Northern leaders and Transport for the North, a partnership formed to allow this part of the country to speak with one voice on the transport infrastructure investment needed.

IPPR North has also recommended Phase 2 of HS2 must begin in the North so that Northern Powerhouse Rail can be accelerated using its infrastructure.

Luke Raikes, Senior Research Fellow at the think tank said: “These figures show that the Prime Minister must urgently follow through on his promises to invest in northern transport infrastructure and devolve power to the North’s leaders.

“The Northern Powerhouse agenda could benefit people across the whole country. Northern transport infrastructure is a national priority.

“The upcoming spending review offers a real opportunity for the government to turn years of Northern Powerhouse rhetoric into reality, and to finally deliver on promises made to the North.”

A Government spokesperson said: “We do not recognise these misleading figures – we’re spending more on transport per person in the North than anywhere else. We are committed to reversing decades of underinvestment in Northern transport including providing a record £13billion by 2020 to improve transport networks in the North.

"As the Prime Minister recently set out, this Government wants to drive growth across the North including through Northern Powerhouse Rail, giving local leaders greater powers and investing £3.6billion in towns across England.”

TOP STORIES: