Labour MP Josh Simons has called for greater investment in the North of England, declaring that he "won't stand for" the current approach to funding decisions.
The MP's comments come in the wake of Reform UK's surprise victory in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election.
Simons specifically highlighted concerns about the toll road in Runcorn, noting that according to the newly-elected Reform MP Sarah Pochin, "the people of Runcorn are angry that they have to pay a toll just to go to the cinema or the leisure centre".
The by-election in Runcorn and Helsby saw Reform UK's Sarah Pochin defeat Labour's Karen Shore by just six votes following a recount.
Labour MP Josh Simons encouraged "more investment in the North"
GB NEWS
Speaking to GB News, Labour MP Josh Simons said: "One thing I’m going to be looking for in Runcorn, it's only about half an hour from where I am now, is what Sarah, the Reform MP, actually does for her constituents."
"Because I wake up two or three times a week thinking about the road, and about this massive illegal waste dump I’m trying to get cleared.
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"These big issues not being dealt with are the main reason people are, quite rightly, furious at politicians like me.
"In the end, that will be the real test of her as an MP for Runcorn not the big-picture Westminster bubble stuff, but whether she actually gets things done for the people of Runcorn."
"And they’ll get a chance to pass judgment on that in four years’ time. According to Sarah, the people of Runcorn are angry that they have to pay a toll just to go to the cinema or the leisure centre."
"Well, this week I was standing outside Parliament with Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, arguing for more investment in the North. It’s something we absolutely must do."
"In my own constituency, there’s a road that connects the M6 and the M61a road that was first promised to my constituents in 1947. I mean, for goodness’ sake.
"Time and time again, the Treasury has said, ‘Well, land values up there aren’t what they are down here, so it doesn’t work it doesn’t pop out of the algorithm.’ And I won’t stand for that kind of thinking."
"We, as a Government, shouldn’t either. Our voters have been telling us: the algorithm in the Treasury and in other parts of Government isn’t working for us.
"And so we, as politicians, if we want to be the party of working people, we’ve got to change that algorithm."
Nigel Farage is the leader of Reform UK
GETTYThe Conservative Party described the result as a "damning verdict" on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's leadership.
Labour responded that by-elections are "always difficult" for the governing party and that the circumstances surrounding Amesbury's resignation had "made it even harder".
The contest was one of several votes held across England on Thursday, with results seen as the first major test for Starmer's Government since last summer's General Election.
