Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Mass Transit: West Yorkshire

10 June 2025 · 4 other contributors · 5,179 words

Opened by Mark Sewards Lab Leeds South West and Morley

Responding minister: Lilian Greenwood

Transport

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Mark Sewards raised concerns about mass transit: west yorkshire in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Leeds is the largest city in Europe without a mass transit system.
  • The Government has provided 200 million in development funding for West Yorkshire's transport.
  • A 15.6 billion commitment to improve local transport in the north and midlands has been announced.

Key requests to Government

The funding provided by the Government for phase 1 of the tram system should be committed and announced in conjunction with the combined authority to ensure its construction is successful.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Mark Sewards Lab Leeds South West and Morley

Leeds is currently the largest city in Europe without a mass transit system, with previous attempts to bring it back failing multiple times. The city has been sceptical due to past failures of various Governments to deliver transport improvements. However, Leeds needs a mass transit system to compete with other major UK cities that already have such systems.

Other contributors (4)
  • Jerome Mayhew Con Broadland and Fakenham

    Acknowledged the long history of transport promises in Leeds and detailed various failed proposals such as the supertram scheme and bus rapid transport plans. Emphasised that the current £2.1 billion funding announcement for the West Yorkshire mass transit scheme is a continuation of earlier Conservative government commitments.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Commends the hon. Member for bringing forward a debate on transportation routes and hubs, highlighting the need for sustained investment without onerous conditions to achieve these projects.

  • Katie White Lab Leeds North West

    Welcomes investment in mass transit but urges no delays between phase 1 and 2. Advocates for better connections to Leeds Bradford airport.

  • Tom Gordon LD Harrogate and Knaresborough

    Supports the funding announcement but calls for a Yorkshire-wide approach, highlighting local councillor campaigns on public transport issues in Bradford and Kirklees. Concerned about the piecemeal approach to addressing transport issues and questioned whether the funding announced was new or just a repackaging of existing funds. Raised concerns over scepticism regarding powers being sucked up by combined authorities, impacting local decision-making.

Government Response

Lilian Greenwood

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport

The Government have backed West Yorkshire’s ambitions with real support and real money: £200 million has already been provided in development funding, including a £160 million allocation from the first city region sustainable transport settlement. Now, I am pleased to confirm that the support is growing under the new funding settlement announced last week. As a Government, we have made a £15.6 billion commitment to improving local transport across the north and the midlands, to be delivered through transport for city regions settlements. Between 2027 and 2032, West Yorkshire will receive an impressive £2.1 billion—a strong vote of confidence in the region’s plans.

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