ITV News, the Guardian and Sky News are all reporting that the northern connection of HS2, linking Manchester to London, has been shelved- but Downing Street has denied it
The news follows weeks of speculation and backlash over reports that the government was looking to axe the HS2 Manchester leg to cut costs.
Notably, transport minister Mark Harper did not respond to multiple questions on the future of HS2 in his speech at the Conservative Party Conference earlier this morning.
Reports indicate that the funding for the HS2 Manchester leg will be re-allocated to other transport projects in the north.
The HS2 Manchester shelving was apparently confirmed to multiple political editors, such as Robert Peston, Beth Rigby and Sam Coates early this morning on the first day of the Conservative Party Conference.
I am told the PM has now taken the decision to shelve the Manchester leg of HS2. Confirmation, and detail of the re-allocation of funds to other transport projects in the north, will presumably come very soon. https://t.co/6uyamo8A4W
— Robert Peston (@Peston) October 2, 2023
However, a Downing Street spokesperson has since said that “These reports are incorrect. No final decisions have been taken on Phase 2 of HS2.”
Northern mayors and several notable Tory figures have criticised the proposed shelving in recent weeks
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said to Sky News this morning that the Conservatives were “elected on a promise to level up the north of England but they’re treating people in the north of England as second-class citizens when it comes to transport and it isn’t right.”
Former prime ministers Boris Johnson and Theresa May both spoke out against axing the HS2 Manchester leg. In a joint article, George Osbourne and Michael Heseltine wrote: “It would be an act of huge economic self-harm and be a decision of such shortsightedness that we urge the prime minister: don’t do it.”
