Philip Hammond pressed on rail plans during northern visit

Philip Hammond backtracked this summer on a Tory manifesto promise to fully electrify key northern rail routes.Philip Hammond has met regional leaders in the north of England as part of an attempt to prove that the government is committed to the so-called “northern powerhouse” project to close the north-south divide.“In truth we didn’t see the colour of his money today,” said Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester.