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Mass Transit: West Yorkshire
10 June 2025
Lead MP
Mark Sewards
Leeds South West and Morley
Lab
Responding Minister
Lilian Greenwood
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Word Count: 5179
Other Contributors: 4
At a Glance
Mark Sewards raised concerns about mass transit: west yorkshire in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
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:
Lead Contributor
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.
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
Government Response
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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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.