The axing of a prospective new rail link between East Lancs and Manchester city centre has been labelled a ‘betrayal’ by the Conservatives.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a range of cuts in a speech to the House of Commons on Monday, including the cancellation of infrastructure projects and means testing pensioners’ winter fuel payments amid claims the Tories had left a £22bn ‘black hole’ in public spending.

The cuts will affect East Lancs transport plans with the axing of the Restoring your Railway Fund, which had funded business cases for a train and tram scheme from Rawtenstall to Bury and then on to Manchester.

Dubbed the ‘City Valley Rail Link’, the rail proposals saw Rossendale Council making the case for a commuter and visitor rail link to be restored between the two towns, with a city-bound interchange to Metrolink trams at Buckley Wells, something it was claimed could grow the economy by “at least 3,100 new jobs over the next 25 years”.

Conservatives in the valley have highlighted that Rossendale remains the only Lancashire district without a mainline rail link - which the rail fund bid had sought to remedy.

Cllr Scott Smith, leader of the Conservatives on Rossendale Council, said: “A rail link between Rawtenstall and Manchester is absolutely vital to ensure we grow our economy and bring jobs and investment to the Rossendale Valley. It is a total betrayal for the Chancellor to axe that project within 30 days of taking office.

“Our MP has been AWOL since this announcement was made. Residents and businesses across Rossendale, who overwhelmingly supported this project, deserve answers from Andy MacNae on how he plans to hold the Chancellor to account for a such hammer blow to the valley’s economy.”

The bid also had the support of Lancashire County Council.

New Rossendale and Darwen MP Mr MacNae referenced the valley’s lack of commuter rail links in his Parliamentary maiden speech, outlining the virtues of his constituency.

He told the Commons: “Something we are less proud of is that Rossendale is the only local authority area in the north without any sort of commuter railway service, which is a fact that I hope the Secretary of State for Transport, my right honourable friend Louise Haigh, does not become too bored of hearing.”

Mr MacNae was unavailable for further comment last night.

In 2022, when the rail link case was launched, Rossendale Council’s Labour leader Cllr Alyson Barnes said it was “vital to our continued sustainable growth.”

She was also unavailable for comment in the wake of the Chancellor’s announcement.

Bury North MP James Frith has described the scheme as “poor value for money”.