Government Transport Secretary, Lord Adonis, announced today plans to bring high-speed rail to Leeds.

The new generation of high speed travel will include both Leeds and Sheffield, despite earlier fears that it would only offer rapid links to London from the West Coast.

The initial phase of the scheme will be built to Birmingham, and then proceed in a y-network to both Leeds and Manchester.

The plans will cut journey times from Leeds to the capital to one and a half hours. Although it is some years until the project will become a reality, Rachel was delighted that the government is backing modern transport for Yorkshire: "It is vital that high speed rail doesn't bypass our region. I welcome the proposed route as it offers an opportunity for everyone to benefit from 21st century transport around the country".

Rachel visited Leeds College of Building last week, meeting Principal Ian Billyard. Rachel was full of praise for the college, which is the only specialist further education construction college in the UK.

The college was featured on Rachel's short film for Channel 4's 'Political Slot'. It currently has 600 apprentices, spread across 7 locations, and provides a unique and valuable service to the city.

Rachel is lobbying for the college to expand into West Leeds, with a number of viable sites from where the college could offer yet more apprenticeships and training. She said: "Investment in skills is making a real difference. Leeds College of Building are offering more courses for the next generation of builders, plumbers, architects and joiners. Advanced apprenticeships around the country are producing the engineers who will lay the cables to make high speed internet a reality for all, and the technicians who will build electric cars of the future. This targeted investment by the Labour government is supporting our emergence from the recession on the sound footing of a broad, competitive, skilled economy, not something that happens by chance. I want to make sure that Leeds West is part of that opportunity economy, having the college of building here would be a step in the right direction."

'Why Vote Labour' has hit the shops today.

The book is Rachel's personal account of why she is a Labour Party member, candidate and voter, and includes personal stories from members and supporters around the country about what the Labour government has done.

You can order your copy direct from Rachel by emailing whyvotelabour@googlemail.com - if you do £5 of the price will be donated to the Party! Every little bit helps to counter Lord Ashcroft's millions!

Short synopses of the book are available at at progress and LabourList

Local theatre group Interplay have been awarded the Best Film in the over 13s category at the prestigious First Light Film Awards.

The group went to the glitzy awards ceremony in London after nomination for Best Film by over 13s and Best Comedy.

The accolade came for the film 'One Man's Walk', a story by Kenneth and Nicholas Mitchell. The film is 'a window into Kenneth Mitchell's life and his favourite things.'

We are delighted for Interplay, who do fantastic work in the community. Creative Director Steve Byrne featured in Rachel's new book, explaining the effect the Labour government has had on Interplay.

You can buy 'Why Vote Labour' direct from Rachel now by emailing whyvotelabour@googlemail.com, and donate £5 to the Party by doing so.

Congratulations to Steve and all at Interplay!

Another Wednesday closer to the election, another Prime Minister's Question Time gone by. It was bound to be a lively session following the revelations about Tory peer Lord Ashcroft's tax status, and the House did not disappoint.

Rachel analysed the session for Progress, alongside Conor Ryan and Rupa Huq. You can read her comments here.