Louise Haigh

I grew up in Sheffield as the shadow of our great steel industry was beginning to diminish; on stories of Yorkshire’s great industries – shipbuilding in Hull, textiles in Leeds and, of course, the coal mines, which my family worked down. All made here and sold to the world – a source of jobs and community, but also a source of pride.

The new government should start work on Northern Powerhouse Rail in full immediately, an influential new report has said.