South Yorkshire Mayor calls for Spending Review to better support our county
The Sheffield City Region Mayor wants public sector workers to be handed a pay rise, too
Last updated 25th Nov 2020
South Yorkshire's metro mayor is looking for a vote of confidence in our region's economy in the Spending Review later.
The Chancellor is setting out where money will be spent today.
Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis says Rishi Sunak must invest in things like transport in the North, if he wants to make the country more equal.
He said: "Northern Powerhouse Rail, I think, is a key test of the government's commitment to investing into infrastructure in the North. So, I very much hope the Chancellor will show a commitment to deliver all of the Northern Powerhouse Rail Project in full.
"This about the Chancellor delivering investment in our economy."
It's thought Rishi Sunak might stop public sector workers like teachers and police officers getting any pay rise when he sets out the Spending Review.
Mr Jarvis says their work has been "herculean" during the pandemic, as says a pay freeze would send out the wrong message: "The public sector has helped see us through the most challenging period in our history, so I very much hope they will be rewarded for their efforts over the course of the last nine months, with a pay rise that most people think that they deserve.
"We will be looking very closely about what the Chancellor has got to say about this. I hope he does the right thing."
Rishi Sunak will deliver his Spending Review speech in the House of Commons at around 12.30pm.