SELRAP Newsletter Interactive 4pm 20th feb 2026 - Flipbook - Page 18
WESTMINSTER NEWS
Peer Pressure
Members of the House of Lords
with local connec琀椀ons have recently
con昀椀rmed their support for the project:
Lord Lee of Tra昀昀ord:
Jonathan Hinder, Robbie Moore & Sir Julian Smith
“Having been both a former MP for
Pendle and tourism minister, I know
how bene昀椀cial the line would be,
boos琀椀ng both tourism and the local
economy.”
MPs United
Lord Gascoigne of Pendle:
A昀琀er a SELRAP brie昀椀ng in Parliament
(3 November 2025), local MPs have
rea昀케rmed their support for reopening
the Skipton-Colne Line:
“Improving East/West transport would
boost not just Colne and Skipton, but
the wider northern economy and
connec琀椀vity.
Jonathan Hinder (Pendle & Clitheroe):
“As a proud Pendle lad, for levelling up,
growth and transport, I hope it happens
soon.”
“I’ll con琀椀nue to press in Parliament and
with ministers to ensure that our area
receives its fair share of investment. Our
communi琀椀es have waited long enough –
it’s 琀椀me to get this line back on track.”
Lord Wallace of Saltaire:
‘Living in Airedale, I’m well aware of
how much the electri昀椀ed line from
Leeds to Skipton has contributed to local
prosperity.
Robbie Moore (Keighley & Ilkley):
”Now is the 琀椀me for a fast, modern
rail link and I will be playing my part
to help SELRAP get the a琀琀en琀椀on from
both local and na琀椀onal government to
make sure that East/West connec琀椀vity is
signi昀椀cantly improved.”
“Linking the towns of East Lancashire
with Yorkshire would similarly help to
raise employment, bring new families to
live in the area and new companies to
invest.”
Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith KBE CBE
(Skipton & Ripon):
“The SELRAP team presented a
compelling case for restoring the
Skipton to Colne rail link, which could
unlock signi昀椀cant economic growth
across North Yorkshire and Lancashire.”
Lord Lee
18
Lord Gascoigne
Lord Wallace
