LONDON, October 23 (Reuters) – UK Finance Minister Rishi Sunak is set to announce a £ 1.5bn ($ 2.1bn) increase in funding for public transport in UK regional towns in the UK. part of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s pledge to “upgrade” the poorest parts of the country.

Sunak, who is due to present a biannual budget plan to parliament on Wednesday, is expected to increase the size of a five-year transport program to £ 5.7 billion from £ 4.2 billion originally planned, the Treasury said.

“There is no reason why a person working in the North and Midlands has to wait several times longer for their bus or train to arrive in the morning compared to a commuter in the capital,” Sunak said in a report. press release Saturday.

Johnson wants to channel more investment to areas of the country where many voters have switched traditional allegiances to support his Conservative Party in its triumph in the 2019 election.

Sunak is expected to announce tighter daily spending controls on Wednesday while excluding long-term capital spending from the new fiscal rules.

Additional funding for transport will also be provided for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Treasury said.

($ 1 = 0.7277 pounds)

Writing by William Schomberg; edited by William James

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