Farron - unfair Northern Powerhouse runs risk of dividing the North

Local MP Tim Farron has warned that unfair devolution spending risks dividing the North of England.

In the budget last week, the Chancellor announced an extra £1.7bn spending on transport in the North.

Half of the money proposed for transport will go to the six areas with elected metro mayors, with the rest open to competition to other cities in England - meaning no money for transport in rural areas of the North like the South Lakes.

Tim's comments come as a new Northern Powerhouse all-party parliamentary group has been set up this week to raise awareness of issues affecting the region and attract investment.

Tim said: "Last week's budget shows that once again it's the rural North that gets overlooked and ignored when it comes to money for transport and infrastructure.

"The government will spend hundreds of millions of pounds on metro links in Newcastle and Sunderland at the same time as pulling the plug on rail electrification in the South Lakes.

"The disparity runs the risk of creating deep divisions between the urban and rural communities in the North and this injustice must be a top priority for the new Northern Powerhouse parliamentary group."