I warmly welcome today’s announcement by the Labour Government of the £1.1bn railway electrification plan which includes electrification of the line between Liverpool and Manchester.

As well as being lighter, more efficient and environmentally friendly, the new electric trains will reduce journey times between Liverpool and Manchester from 44 minutes to 30 minutes, thus opening up opportunities for the Mersey Region as a whole.

Also I welcome Wirral Conservative Cllr Blakeley’s (no doubt reluctant) change of heart in finally accepting Gordon Brown’s policy of not cutting our way out of recession as illustrated in this press release from Merseytravel and I quote

This investment makes commercial and environmental sense and comes at a time when the economy is in difficulty and investment in public services is essential

Maybe Chris you should have a word in the ear of your Shadow Transport Secretary Theresa Villiers who appears to pour cold water on the investment and I quote

how can we believe that Labour can announce £1.1bn of new spending without impacting on existing transport commitments or putting further strain on public finances already stretched to breaking point?

Overall together with major investment in a vital transport link and a leading Wirral Tory finally seeing the light over investment in Public Services, its been a good day day for Wirral and the Mersey Region as a whole, I just hope that the scheme is not one of David Cameron’s targets in his proposed massacre of Public Services should the Tories win power.