Oldham MP McMahon criticises ‘Network Nowt’ rail plan after 13 years of 'broken promises'

Oldham West and Royton MP Jim McMahon

Oldham MP Jim McMahon has slammed Rishi Sunak for 'taking local people for fools' over his back of a cig packet “Network North” plan for transport, dubbed ‘Network Nowt’ by the Labour MP.

Projects announced have been dropped, with separate projects being revealed to have already been completed.

Not only did Ministers announce projects which have already been completed, such as the extension of trams and metro links in Manchester and Nottingham, but Mr McMahon says the Government u-turned on some commitments the very next day, such as the short-lived promise to build the Leamside Line.

Mr McMahon slammed the 'fiasco', adding “local people are sick and tired of empty promises” after Sunak presented Northern Powerhouse Rail as a new project for constituents, when this was first promised in 2014.

Oldham is serviced by train stations at Mills Hill and New Moston, both of which, Mr McMahon insists, have had no investment from the government.

Mr McMahon draws attention too the Middleton Junction site within Oldham West and Royton, which he believes should serve as a train station within his constituency.

The Labour MP called on the Government to create an orbital tram line in 2020, which he says is another forgotten part of infrastructure in the North.

Mr McMahon said: “Local people in Oldham are sick and tired of this Government taking them for fools.

"Only the Conservatives could have the brass neck to promise yet another ‘revolution’ of our transport infrastructure after thirteen years of countless broken promises to do just that.

"‘Network Nowt’ has become a reality in Oldham, we’ve seen no new infrastructure or funding delivered from the government, with no investment at Mills Hill or the New Moston train station, and crucially at Middleton Junction which lies within Oldham.”

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