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The UK Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, recently announced her support for the expansion of airports and the creation of a UK Silicon Valley. However, as I drove through the north of England, it became increasingly clear to me that investment in southern infrastructure appeared to be a greater priority for the government than the urgent needs of the north. The closed Gateshead flyover, for example, is an example of the infrastructure that is desperately required. Built of 1960s concrete which had become so corroded that it was in danger of imminent collapse, the road has been coned off for over a year. So far, the government has failed to allocate the appropriate funds needed to replace it. Making matters worse, Tyne and Wear Metro trains were forced to stop running underneath the disintegrating flyover, causing chaos for commuters and Christmas shoppers.
The Tyne bridge is another example of the neglect suffered by northern infrastructure. The rusting hulk of the iconic bridge is shrouded in scaffolding while work slowly proceeds to gradually restore it. Before last year’s election, the Conservative Party had promised funding for the restoration of the bridge, although no money was ever paid out. There is now some concern as to whether Labour will honour this pledge to fund its revitalisation. Add this to the abandoned plans to upgrade part of the A1 in Northumberland to dual carriageway and it’s clear why the north may be casting an envious glance at Reeves’ growth plans for the south.
The people of the north are used to disappointment, but they wonder if they have once again been abandoned by the government in favour of easier growth opportunities in the south. However, some see Heathrow expansion as an opportunity. As the airport offers a daily link to Newcastle, it’s argued that the north-east could receive some collateral boost by the expansion. Moreover, when it was last proposed, the new Heathrow runway was set to offer a service between Teesside Airport and London. Reeves has also spoken about the role Teesside can play in manufacturing new, sustainable aviation fuels that will be needed to make the case for airport expansion.
Despite the passing of powers and funding to mayors of both political persuasions, many doubt whether this will transform the fortunes of England’s poorest regions and realise the long-term aspiration of levelling up the north. What Rachel Reeves’ speech demonstrated is that big infrastructure improvement requires government action. Without recent investment comparable to the billions spent on London’s Elizabeth line, it’s clear that expecting southern success to trickle up the country will not work. Labour needs to take governance of the north seriously, it can no longer take voters in the region for granted. With the temporary success of the Conservative Party in 2019 and the rise of Reform UK now posing a new threat, it is essential that Labour keep a firm eye on their shallow foundations, to avoid the expectation of the electorate crumbling as badly as that of Gateshead flyover
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