Oral Answers to Questions

Yasmin Qureshi Excerpts

Wednesday 5th February 2025 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for steadfastly raising this really important issue, particularly during Children’s Mental Health Week. I have met the 3 Dads Walking. They are inspirational and their courage is extraordinary. As the father of young children, I do not know how they are able to campaign in the way that they do. I am not sure I would be able to do so. Of course, I can assure the hon. Gentleman that I will meet them again and push this really important agenda forward.

[Yasmin Qureshi (Bolton South and Walkden) (Lab)]

Q3. Eighty-six per cent. of trains at Kearsley station in my constituency were delayed or cancelled in the past 12 weeks. That is widespread through Bolton South and Walkden. My constituent Sophie, who commutes from Walden to Manchester, told me that “almost every day one peak time train is cancelled. And when the train finally turns up it’s overcrowded”. Recently, she was stranded for hours after constant cancellations because train crew were unavailable. Can the Prime Minister reassure my constituents that this Government are committed to building reliable railways after 14 years of Tory chaos?

[The Prime Minister]

My hon. Friend is right to highlight that the Conservative party left our railways in a terrible state. Two years of strikes cost our economy £850 million in lost revenue. You cannot grow the economy if you cannot run the railways. We will launch Great British Railways to focus relentlessly on passengers and to clamp down on delays and cancellations. I am pleased that Northern has announced the largest ever investment in its fleet to deliver 450 new trains, meaning more comfortable and reliable journeys for my hon. Friend’s constituents.