TSSA dismisses government ‘levelling up’ plans as partygate distraction

TSSA General Secretary, Manuel Cortes, has dismissed so-called ‘levelling up’ plans announced by the government as a ‘distraction’ designed to move the focus away from the ongoing scandal over parties in Downing Street. 

Conservatives say their plans aim to improve services such as education, broadband and transport. However, these contain no new funding, have been announced before and won’t happen until 2030. 

Cortes instead points the growing cost of living crisis, cuts of over £2 billion pounds per year across the railways, the lack of funding for Transport for London and a Tory strategy which cripples any long-term post-pandemic recovery across public transport. 

Commenting, union leader Cortes said: "The government wants to distract from its law-breaking failures. They talk a good game when it comes to levelling up, but they will be judged on their actions, and so far we're seeing living standards fall as the cost of living explodes and inequalities expand. 

"If the government wants to use London as a comparator on transport, then they must invest in Transport for London (TfL), not leave it to rot and decay. Continually investing in TfL and all transport is the right way to raise up transport services across the country 

"Sadly, the Tories are also now pushing deep cuts to our railways with many services being cut which will deepen inequality across our country. So much for levelling up."