The project has its vocal supporters, but there are many areas in the North of England which it will not help at all.
A better railway is crucial to delivering prosperity in every part of the country, connecting communities and transforming regional economies.
The Prime Minister was right to say many voters have only ‘lent’ us their votes. We must now earn that trust, by ensuring the benefits of life in a post-Brexit Britain reach all communities.
Don’t expect Downing Street to bother too much about what MPs or the media think as it prepares to shake up government and Whitehall.
I hope that we will see more of the Chancellor during the campaign explaining how his plans can help support investment to boost productivity.
The current expensive disruptive route, and the neglect of decrepit local transport, are unacceptable.
The place to put these proposals to the test is at a general election, not in a Parliament apparently determined to do little other than delay Brexit.
The era of government-run railway infrastructure has been, for the most part, one of decline and a clear lack of ambition.
Building the northern sections first could provide a springboard for further projects and combat the idea that the former Mayor of London is too capital-focused.
Plus: I* which I ru* i*to a few a**oyi*g problems fili*g this colum* from my *orfolk retreat.
Also: don’t cut members out of the contest. And the right exam question for candidates is: who can best win a general election?
This is a contribution to the debate – now let’s see what the candidates offer during the week ahead.
They are chosen not from a factional or ideological standpoint, but from what I see while doing the job of Mayor.
For the first time in decades the levers of British influence – defence, diplomacy, aid and trade – could sit alongside domestic efforts in education and infrastructure.