Bradford's Reform UK leader to challenge party bosses over rail stance

Council leader to challenge party bosses over NPR Image source, Aisha Iqbal/BBC Image caption, The Government has pledged to build a new station on the site of the current Bradford Interchange as part of the broader Northern Powerhouse Rail project By Aisha Iqbal Bradford political reporter Published 5 hours ago Bradford's Reform UK council leader said he hoped to change his party's mind over its opposition to the Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) project. Stephen Place said he was willing to make the case for the flagship rail scheme to Reform's national leadership, despite deputy leader Richard Tice previously saying his party would scrap it if the party came to power. On Tuesday, the government confirmed a new station is set to be built at Bradford Interchange as part of the NPR project. Speaking to the BBC's Politics North programme, Place said he was "delighted" by the new investment pledge and suggested he may need to discuss the wider stance with Tice. "I just think for Bradford, as a young emerging city and a young emerging economy, we're going to need some connectivity," he said. "And so, yeah, maybe I'm going to have to speak to Mr Tice and have a chat with him about it." Asked whether he was willing to stand up to his party's national leadership if he believed it was in Bradford's interests, he said: "Well, we'll have to have a chat with them and put our case to them and see if we can change their minds." The NPR scheme was first proposed over a decade ago, but in January the government promised the £45bn plan would go ahead. Image source, Aisha Iqbal/BBC Image caption, Stephen Place, leader of Bradford Council, says he's "delighted" the funding was announced on Reform UK's "watch" in the city Last year, Tice told the BBC a Reform government would scrap plans for NPR, arguing the money would be better spent on other priorities. He urged companies thinking of bidding for contracts to build new high-speed rail links across the North to "not bother". In response, the then mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham rejected Tice's comments and suggested Reform wanted a "second-class railway" for the North of England. In Bradford, where Reform leads the council without a majority, the reaction to the government's latest NPR announcement has been very different. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed plans for a new station at Bradford Interchange during a council-organised business conference at the city's Bradford Live venue. Image source, Aisha Iqbal/BBC Image caption, Transport Minister Heidi Alexander announced the Labour government's pledge for a new station for Bradford on Tuesday The announcement follows years of campaigning for better rail connections, as well as setbacks, with the city often seen as having missed out on major transport investment. They include a previous plan to build a new through station on the site of St James' Market off Wakefield Road, which has now been scrapped. Place said his administration had been pushing for the Bradford Interchange project since taking control of the council in May and also acknowledged the work done by the previous administration. "We're not solely responsible for it. Of course not. It's been going on for quite a while," he said. "I'm absolutely delighted that this has been announced on our watch." He said the new station could help boost Bradford's economy and create more opportunities for young people. "We're here trying to drive it, push it forward, make it bigger, better for young people in Bradford coming forward," he said. "And so we need connectivity and we need to be able to get in and out of the city in a modern way." While the government confirmed plans for the new station, the long-standing ambition for a "through station", allowing trains to travel across the city rather than reversing out, has not yet been settled. Place urged the government to make a quick decision on the issue, adding it would be the "icing on the cake" of the rail announcement. Get in touch Your Voice Contact form Contact form Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds , catch up with the latest episode of Look North . Related topics Reform UK Northern Powerhouse Rail City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council Bradford Related stories Hope but not yet belief on Bradford's streets for railway station reboot Published 3 days ago New station puts city at heart of network - mayor Published 5 days ago Plans for high-speed rail station in Bradford axed Published 4 November 2022 Rail plan 'resigns city to second-class service' Published 18 November 2021 Why the Northern Powerhouse Rail plan will really go ahead this time Published 14 January Related internet links BBC Politics North (Yorkshire)