Starmer defends Northern Powerhouse Rail delay

The plans had reportedly been due to be announced at Labour's conference in Liverpool next week

Sir Keir Starmer has defended a decision to delay plans to extend high-speed rail services across the north-west of England.

The prime minister told BBC North West Tonight that while "the commitment to Northern Powerhouse Rail remains... I just want to make sure we get it right".

It is believed the plans had been due to be announced at Labour's party conference in Liverpool next week.

The BBC understands concerns over the long-term costs of the line earmarked between Liverpool and Manchester have pushed back the revival of the project known as Northern Powerhouse Rail.

The respective Labour mayors of Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region - Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram - have set out a new business case for the route and said it would better connect high-growth industries across the region.

The decision not to commit funding for the project has been branded "disgraceful" by the leader of Liverpool's opposition Liberal Democrats, Carl Cashman.

He said: "Yet again the North is second best when it comes to jobs and investment, and yet again we are overlooked by the Labour government.

"In Liverpool, we have a Labour council, a Labour metro mayor, nothing but Labour MPs, and a Labour government, and we still can't get anything meaningful."

Cashman said Rotheram had criticised proposals by Reform UK to scrap the rail link, and accused him of "now doing the same thing".

Rotheram has been asked for comment.

Liverpool City Region mayor Steve Rotheram joined his Greater Manchester counterpart Andy Burnham in supporting the case for a new line

In 2023, Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told delegates at his party's conference in Manchester that he was scrapping the northern leg of HS2, which would have increased capacity between Manchester and Birmingham.

With Liverpool having been set to benefit from a major infrastructure project that has now been delayed, are there uncomfortable parallels for the PM as his party faithful heads to Merseyside?

Starmer was quick to reject any suggestion that history was repeating itself.

He said his government wanted to "learn the lessons" of HS2 and would not deviate from his commitment to Northern Powerhouse Rail.

He said £3.5bn had already been invested in upgrading the existing line, and that he understood how strongly the northern mayors felt about boosting infrastructure.

The idea of Northern Powerhouse Rail was first put forward by former Conservative chancellor George Osborne more than 10 years ago

Northern Powerhouse Rail was first put forward by former Tory chancellor George Osborne in 2014.

The proposed rail link between Liverpool and Manchester would stretch from Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Piccadilly, via both Warrington Bank Quay and Manchester Airport.

While parts of the scheme have been downgraded and changed by various governments since, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said in June she would "set out" plans to "take forward our ambitions for Northern Powerhouse Rail... in the coming weeks".

A plan had been expected to be announced at the time of the June Spending Review, then at the unveiling of the government's infrastructure strategy, and finally in the publication of a pipeline of key infrastructure projects.

No announcements have yet been made, however.

'Unlock growth'

Northern mayors and Merseyside MPs were then reassured by indications that plans for the new railway line, alongside a "Northern corridor" regeneration plan, would be published before or at the Labour Party conference.

Many believed it would be a central announcement by Starmer in his conference speech.

Liverpool City Region mayor Steve Rotheram said: "The prime minister's commitment to Northern Powerhouse Rail will be welcomed by the people in the North, but I'm very keen to see those commitments turned into action.

"The case for Liverpool to Manchester is overwhelming. Independent analysis shows it could unlock £90 billion of growth – growth that our country badly needs and which would swell exchequer coffers.

"The Liverpool City Region's economy is growing a third faster than the national average, but that success risks being constrained by outdated, Victorian infrastructure.

"Get this right, and our government will leave a lasting legacy every bit as transformational as the original Liverpool–Manchester line two centuries ago."