GOVERNMENT support to fund a new London rail line after it threatened to scrap rail improvements for the north undermines Theresa May’s pledge to rebalance the economy.

We are not so small-minded as to begrudge investment in the South East. A booming London economy is good for the whole of the UK and it needs regular injections of public cash on roads and railways – but this must not happen at the expense of the regions.

Taxpayers in the north should not be subsiding superfast transport for London while being forced to accept ancient rolling stock and services that have reached capacity up here.

There needs to be a more balanced approach which nurtures the northern economy.

We also need powerful voices who are unafraid to speak up on our behalf.

The Department for Transport is almost entirely staffed by Londoners, and the cabinet is packed with MPs who represent constituencies in the Home Counties. No wonder they’re all in favour of Crossrail and HS2 as these schemes will create thousands of jobs for their voters and make it easier for ministers and civil servants to commute to and from Westminster.

The election of regional mayors was supposed to give the north powerful local advocates who would be heard by central government.

Too often, however, they toe the party line instead of speaking from the heart. The Labour mayors in the north west this week attacked the Government on rail spending, while Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, a Conservative, defended his party’s spending record.

Mayors were elected first and foremost to fight for their region not for their party leaders.

If that means they rattle a few cages at Westminster then all the better.