Northern Powerhouse Rail

Debate between Judith Cummins and Connor Naismith

Wednesday 14th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Judith Cummins)]

Order. Before I call the next speaker, I ask Members to keep their questions short. Otherwise we will not be able to get everybody in, so please help each other out.

[Connor Naismith (Crewe and Nantwich) (Lab)]

Can I begin by expressing my sincere and enthusiastic thanks to the Secretary of State for today’s announcements? I have been campaigning, and some would say badgering Ministers, throughout my entire time in this place to address capacity challenges on the west coast main line arising from the steaming pile of mess left for this Government on HS2. I welcome the announcement that the Government intend to build a new rail line between Birmingham and Manchester, but following 14 years of mismanagement of projects such as this, how can the Secretary of State assure me and my constituents that these projects will actually be delivered, and how will they be insulated against the backwards, anti-growth, populist forces that we know would reverse these plans in a heartbeat?