Party 'never opposed' Bradford rail plan - Reform

Reform UK has insisted it supports plans for a new railway station in Bradford as part of Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), despite its opposition to parts of the broader project.

The party's deputy leader nationally, Richard Tice, said it had "never opposed" Phase 1 of NPR, which includes proposals for the city's new station, but remained against spending money on a high-speed line between Liverpool and Manchester.

However, questions remain over which parts of NPR Reform UK would support if it got into government, including a proposed new line connecting Bradford with Huddersfield and Manchester.

The city's Reform group say they do not believe the national stance poses a risk locally.

Bradford's political parties have all agreed on the importance of securing a new station as part of NPR, and specifically a through line, but opposition councillors have questioned whether the local Reform administration's commitment is shared by the party nationally.

At a meeting of Bradford Council's Reform-led executive earlier this week, Conservative group leader Rebecca Poulsen welcomed the proposed new station's city-centre location but said Bradford needed more than a replacement terminus.

"We still need this through line, and I think that's the next bit we really need to all push on," she said.

She questioned whether any Reform UK national opposition to high-speed rail investment could affect the Bradford scheme and sought assurances from council leader Stephen Place.

Place said he had spoken to senior figures in his national party about infrastructure projects.

"I've obviously spoken to leaders of the national party, and they will revisit any infrastructure projects ... depending where they are along the line, as and when and if they are returned to power," he said.

But he insisted his administration remained committed to a through line rather than simply rebuilding the existing station.

"We are absolutely 1,000% invested in a through line and not the terminus," he said.

"I just don't see the point particularly investing all this money ... for what? For a status quo."

Green group leader Matt Edwards also raised concerns about whether Tice's earlier comments could undermine investor confidence in the project.

Place said he had sought clarification and insisted there was "no risk".

David Shepherd, Bradford Council's strategic director for place, said further evidence was being gathered about the relative benefits of a through station and a replacement terminus, including potential improvements to timetables and connectivity.

Shepherd added it would be for the Department for Transport to manage any risk relating to political views, adding: "As a council we have taken steps to demonstrate cross party support."

Meanwhile Labour group leader Imran Khan said improved railway connections could be a "game changer" for Bradford.

He welcomed Place's reassurances but warned that the withdrawal of national support would create serious problems for the project.

Khan also paid tribute to the work of the council's previous Labour leadership and West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin in bringing the plans forward.

Place acknowledged that the project had involved successive administrations.

"We're just happy for Bradford," he said.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander previously said at least a year's worth of surveys would be needed to establish whether a through station was possible.

Work on the station would not start until the 2030s, which would be into the next Parliament.

Tice previously warned companies considering bidding for major high-speed rail contracts that they should "not bother", saying a future Reform government would spend the money elsewhere.

Asked for the party's current national position, a Reform UK spokesman said: "Richard Tice wrote the foreword for the Policy Exchange report which advocated for Phase 1 of Northern Powerhouse Rail. This includes the new station for Bradford. Reform UK has never opposed these plans.

"What we do oppose is money being spent on the Liverpool-Manchester high-speed line, which is extortionately expensive, will not deliver value for money, and will take longer than the existing line. This funding should instead be directed towards smaller, more effective local projects."

The BBC has gone through the detail of the Policy Exchange report, 'called 'Instead of High Speed Rail' and found no explicit mention of Phase 1 of Northern Powerhouse Rail.

The report advocates improvements to existing railway infrastructure, including routes serving Bradford, but does not explicitly endorse the newly proposed Bradford Interchange station.

Reform UK has been asked to identify which passages of the report it believes demonstrate support for the first phase of Northern Powerhouse Rail.

The party has also been asked to clarify whether its support for Bradford extends beyond the replacement station itself to the proposed through line and a new railway connection towards Huddersfield, which would provide direct links towards Manchester.

Further questions have sought clarification about its position on other elements of the wider Northern Powerhouse Rail programme, and the potential impact on the wider programme and the benefits intended for Bradford.

Reform UK has not yet responded to these additional questions.

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