Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham says axing the extension risks creating a 'north-south chasm'.
The last official estimate on HS2 costs, excluding the cancelled eastern section, added up to about £71bn.
On Sunday, Grant Shapps, the current Defence Secretary and former Transport Secretary, said it would be "crazy" not to review plans for HS2 given that costs have risen. Mr Burnham told the BBC that axing the HS2 extension was "a recipe for the north-south divide to become a north-south chasm". Labour has so far refused to confirm it would fund the HS2 line to Manchester if the Conservatives axe it.
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