King’s Speech

Baroness Dacres of Lewisham Excerpts

Wednesday 20th May 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Dacres of Lewisham (Lab)]

My Lords, modern transport infrastructure is not simply about moving people from A to B. It is about economic growth, productivity, housing delivery, social mobility and national competitiveness. Too often, transport is viewed as a cost. In reality, it is one of the greatest investments that a nation can make.

From my time in local government and as chair of London Councils transport and environment committee, I have seen the transformative impact that investment in transport infrastructure can have on communities, businesses and local economies. Reliable and integrated rail infrastructure does more than just improve journeys; it increases labour market access, boosts productivity and creates the confidence needed for investment.

The creation of Great British Railways provides an opportunity to deliver a more integrated, reliable and passenger-focused railway network that supports growth and connectivity across the country. Business invests where connectivity is strong; people seek work where transport is reliable; developers build homes where infrastructure exists; and local economies thrive where communities are connected.

Investment in transport infrastructure also generates benefits far beyond the immediate area in which the project is delivered. One example of this is the Bakerloo line upgrade and extension. I have consistently argued that this is not simply a London transport project but a national growth project. For too long, parts of south-east London have experienced lower levels of transport investment, despite their enormous economic and housing potential. The benefits and return on investment are clear. This transformative and shovel-ready infrastructure project will unlock 107,000 new homes and 150,000 new jobs, while adding £1.5 billion in GVA to the national economy. Those are not simply transport statistics but indicators of economic growth.

Transport infrastructure changes the geography of opportunity. It determines whether someone can realistically access work, education, training or culture within a reasonable journey time. For many communities, better transport is not simply a convenient thing, it is a game-changer. Transport infrastructure helps to ensure that people from all communities can access jobs, education, training and opportunity and share in the benefit of economic growth. The economic benefit would not stop at London’s borders; the project would support engineering and manufacturing supply chains across the United Kingdom, including rail manufacturing jobs in Goole in Yorkshire and beyond.

Modern public transport infrastructure is also essential to reducing congestion, improving air quality and supporting sustainable economic growth. Infrastructure requires long-term thinking and partnership between national government, local government, businesses and regional leaders. Does my noble friend the Minister agree that long-term certainty around infrastructure investment is essential to giving businesses, developers and local authorities the confidence to invest, plan and deliver growth? Transport infrastructure is ultimately an investment in people, opportunity and national renewal. If we get this right, we will not simply be modernising transport networks, we will be unlocking growth, expanding opportunity and helping to build a fairer and more prosperous country.