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Would a £15bn investment level up red-wall transport?

The Independent

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June 05, 2025

The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has announced a £15bn investment in public transport projects in the English regions.

- SEAN O'GRADY

Would a £15bn investment level up red-wall transport?

Albeit her commitment to restore the pensioners' winter fuel payment (in whole or part is not known) has grabbed much of the attention, these plans for enhanced light rail, bus and tram links will no doubt make an impact.

She said: "We know the potential that exists in all of our towns and cities... I can tell you today that we will be making the biggest ever investment by a British government in transport links within our city regions, and their surrounding towns; £15.6bn in transport funding settlements, to be delivered by our regional mayors - more than doubling real-terms spending on city-region connectivity." But it is not quite what it seems to be.

Is this new money?

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