Will government keep ex-PM's bridge cash promise?

Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised to meet 100% of the remaining costs of the Tyne Bridge revamp

An MP is urging the government to keep a promise made by the former prime minister and pay the final £6m towards the refurbishment of the Tyne Bridge.

The Department for Transport awarded £35m to repair the crossing earlier this year, but more money is needed to cover the final bill.

Newcastle Central and West MP Chi Onwurah urged ministers to honour the pledge made by Rishi Sunak to meet 100% of the remaining costs.

Roads minister Lilian Greenwood did not commit to honour that promise, but said the "iconic" status of the bridge would be considered during a spending review.

Work on the bridge includes repainting as well as repairing more than 1,000 defects

The bridge connects Newcastle-upon-Tyne on the north bank of the River Tyne with Gateshead to the south.

Engineers confirmed they had found a further 100 bridge defects, on top of 900 they already knew about, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

• Tyne Bridge repairs: All you need to know

Transport secretary Louise Haigh announced in the summer that she was commissioning a review of her department’s capital spend portfolio in light of an alleged £2.9bn of "unfunded transport commitments" made under the Conservatives.

Speaking in the Commons on Thursday, Onwurah said: "I do hope that the minister will be able to join us on the restored Tyne Bridge for its centenary celebrations in 2028.

"However, she may be aware that an uplift to the funding announced under the previous government for the restoration has not yet materialised, and inflation and issues uncovered during the project have led to a rise in costs."

She urged the minister to confirm money would be made available for the full restoration.

Greenwood said: "As with all schemes in the major road network programme, the department’s contribution is fixed once the scheme is approved and Newcastle City Council was awarded more than £35m towards the total cost of the scheme."