McLoughlin: argument won over HS2, and infrastructure helped Conservatives win election

McLoughlin: providing continuity for long-term infrastructure plans

McLoughlin: providing continuity for long-term infrastructure plans

Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin has in his first speech since his re-appointment declared that the "argument is won" over HS2 and that the Conservative Party's prioritising of infrastructure helped it win the election.

He said in Leeds today: "I'm here, delivering this speech, because the economy and infrastructure were the top two issues in our manifesto... the British people gave us a clear mandate to finish the job of fixing our economy, paying off our debts and modernising our infrastructure". They "voted for £70bn of capital investment in transport".

He said the General Election was also "a massive vote of confidence in HS2" and said construction could now start on the Y network in two years. and declared that the benefits were already starting to be felt, with HSBC moving its retail bank headquarters from London to Birmingham "just one example".

McLoughlin hailed the fact that the Hybrid Bill for HS2 Phase One was re-presented last week and is "Bill Number 1" for the new session with the select committee considering it resuming shortly. He was also determined to "deliver the benefits to the North as fast as possible" and will "prepare a dedicated Hybrid Bill in this Parliament".

The transport secretary, who has been seen as a steady pair of hands, highlighted that he was now one of the longest serving in the post in recent times - with seven transport secretaries in the seven years preceding his appointment in 2012 - said stability was needed for long-term investment decisions.