Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has scrapped the northern leg of HS2, claiming the move will save £36bn which can be invested in a new “Network North” and hundreds of other transport projects across the money.
During a speech at the Conservative Conference in Manchester, he said the cost of the high-speed rail project has spiralled out of control and the economic case has been “massively weakened” by a post-pandemic drop in passenger numbers.
The Prime Minister said scrapping phase two will allow the Government to spend billions on projects “that will make a real difference”, including a new £19.8bn scheme called Network North, which promises to improve bus and rail journeys across the region. “What we really need is better transport connections in the north – a new Network North – that will join up our great towns and cities in the north and the midlands,” said Mr Sunak. “This is the right way to drive growth and spread opportunity across our country; to level up.
She added: “After this Tory fiasco, why should anyone believe the Tories can deliver anything they say?”
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