EXPLAINED: 14 - The Real Truth

Rishi Sunak refuses to commit to HS2 Manchester route

Reports have stated the Prime Minister is considering trimming the route from Birmingham to Manchester due to rising costs

Evening Standard · Oct 1, 2023

£9bn Thames tunnel faces axe amid fears over Tory infrastructure plans

Rishi Sunak failure to commit to HS2’s northern leg has raised concerns about the future of several large-scale transport projects

The Guardian - UK · Oct 1, 2023

‘No one knows what we stand for’: Tory MPs in despair ahead of Sunak’s crucial conference

With the party riven by factions and differences on policy, the prime minister has a job on his hands trying to find a coherent way forward

The Guardian - UK · Oct 1, 2023

Theresa May piles pressure on Sunak not to scrap HS2

She joins calls by fellow ex-PMs Boris Johnson and David Cameron over fears scrapping line into Euston will disrupt trains from her constituency

The Independent UK · Sep 30, 2023

‘Cost of living, tax, potholes. It makes me angry’: Tamworth voters turn on Tories ahead of byelection

The dithering over HS2 has added to anger in the Midlands town and Sunak’s party will be hard pressed to hold on to Chris Pincher’s former seat

The Guardian - UK · Sep 30, 2023

Theresa May becomes latest ex-premier to urge Rishi Sunak not to trim HS2

The former Conservative leader said more capacity was required on trains to the North West and that HS2 should terminate at Euston.

The Independent UK · Sep 30, 2023

Transport Secretary refuses to commit to HS2 Manchester leg as pressure builds on PM to ‘finish the job’

The route to Leeds was scrapped in 2021 due to surging costs

Evening Standard · Sep 30, 2023

Transport Secretary swerves HS2 questions as ministers told to ‘finish the job’

Former attorney general Sir Jeremy Wright said a high-speed line only from London to Birmingham would never have received sign-off from Parliament.

The Independent UK · Sep 30, 2023

Transport secretary refuses eight times to talk about HS2 in painful BBC clash

Mark Harper refuses to discuss future of high-speed rail in excruciating radio interview – as Theresa May joins furious Tory backlash

The Independent UK · Sep 30, 2023

Tories face frosty reception in Manchester as future of HS2 in doubt

Any rollback of' levelling up commitments in north could anger ‘red wall’ voters who swung to Conservatives

The Guardian - UK · Sep 30, 2023