Grayling under pressure over Transport for the North advisory powers

MPs are set to use a debate in Parliament today to challenge the transport secretary to give Transport for the North more than advisory powers, backed by regional daily The Yorkshire Post, which highlighted the news.

Hull North MP Diane Johnson will lead the backbench debate, ahead of this week's Budget, which The Yorkshire Post in an editorial urged Chris Grayling to attend himself "after this week's revelatiosn about Transport for the North's diluted powers". It reported that Johnson said it was a "betrayal of the region" that the body will not have decision-making powers and the ability to raise money, as enjoyed by Transport for London.

Johnson, writing in the newspaper, said: "Do ministers really believe their arguments about the need to 'rebalance the economy' and regenerate economies and communities across the North? It is time that the transport secretary was held accountable and forced to give our region's tax-payers, fare-payers and businesses the fairer deal on transport investment that we need and deserve."

The Department said in a statement to the newspaper that it had funded the body to develop plans and "looks forward to working with them once proposals are submitted later this year".