News / Bristol
Chancellor’s visit to Temple Meads.
Bristol East candidate Theo Clarke scored a hattrick of Conservative Party bigwigs campaigning in the constituency as Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond visited Temple Meads.
His visit follows appearances of Prime Minister Theresa May and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, all lending their support in the Tory target seat.
While at the station, Hammond refused to confirm that the electrification of the Great Western mainline to Bristol would happen, but said it was important to keep working towards improvements including the Henbury Loop, a new line to Portishead, and new stations at Ashton Gate and St Anne’s Park.
“What matters to people is the outcome,” Hammond said. “Reliable journey times, shorter journey times, greater frequency of service, better availability of wi-fi on the trains.
“How we do that, whether it’s by electrifying or not part of the lines using hybrid trains is of less interest to them.
“What they want is the service delivered and is what Network Rail is determined to deliver too.”
The Chancellor said that Clarke “is going to campaign for significant infrastructure investments that we need in this city”.
He added: “It’s time now for fresh blood.”
Main photo left to right: West of England metro mayor Tim Bowles, Chancellor Philip Hammond and Bristol East Conservative Party candidate Theo Clarke
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