Spending increases, but transport still branded 'huge disappointment'

Five years ago the party boasted of having significantly increased spending since it came into power and pledged continuing investment.

"We have doubled transport spending since 1997 and will increase it year on year," the manifesto said.

Yet although spending has continued to increase, MPs say Yorkshire has not had its fair share, and businesses are also disappointed at the amount that has been lost to budgets which have spiralled out of control – something the National Audit Office has also singled out for criticism.

Nick Pontone, policy director of Yorkshire and Humber Chambers of Commerce, said: "Labour have increased UK transport budgets but it hasn't felt like it because they've allowed the cost of road and rail schemes to spiral. Yorkshire and Humber has continued to miss out on its fair share of this investment and the future of many schemes look bleak because the public purse is empty.

"With ever rising congestion on roads and public transport networks, their record on transport has been a huge disappointment. On the plus side, the backing for air travel has been both correct and brave in the face of fierce pressure from the environment lobby."

MPs from all parties have been vocal in lobbying Ministers for extra funding for the region, yet despite some investment – such as to trial tram-trains – there is disappointment at the widening gap with London, where approval has been given for the 16bn Crossrail link.

In a Westminster debate earlier this year, Labour's Sheffield Hillsborough MP Angela Smith, who sits on the Transport Committee, said: "The record of investment in rail and recognition of the need to continue investing has to be set in the context of a deal for the North of England that is less than satisfactory — in other words, the North has not had its fair share of the cake.

"Statistical analyses of 2009 public expenditure show that spending per head on transport was 783 in London. However, in Yorkshire and Humber the figure was just 213, and in the North-East it was even less at 206, although the North-West was relatively lucky in receiving 278 per head.

"The figures show that spending in three of the regions I have mentioned was more than three-and-a-half times less than it was in London."

There has also been anger at the continuing uncertainty over whether commuter routes into Leeds will get the new carriages they were promised, and all eyes will be on what routes the Government proposes for high-speed links to the North amid concern that the Yorkshire region will miss out on billions of pounds of investment if it is not connected.