A DISTRICT MP claims that money earmarked for the multi-billion-pound High Speed 2 railway line should instead be spent on improving connectivity across the north.

Speaking during Treasury Questions, Philip Davies – whose Shipley constituency includes Cullingworth and Denholme – said reducing journey times to London was not a priority, and that tackling transport issues within the region was of more concern to his constituents.

Mr Davies, a long-time opponent of the HS2 line, said: "The travel between north and south is the bit of transport infrastructure that works, it is the travel across the north that doesn't. What would the cost of HS2 have to reach for the Government to conclude that it no longer represents value for money for taxpayers, or is the Government pursuing the essentially socialist policy that it will keep paying for this white elephant irrespective of the final bill?"

Chief Secretary to the Treasury, John Glen, said the Government remained "fully committed" to delivering HS2 and its integrated rail plan.

He added: "This is a long-term investment that will bring our biggest cities closer to each other. It will boost productivity and provide a low-carbon alternative to cars and planes for decades to come."