Axing HS2 'would derail levelling-up'

SCRAPPING the northern section of HS2 would make a mockery of the Government’s plans to level-up Britain, a minister has warned.

- David Williamson and Jonathan Walker

But senior figures are pushing for the high-speed rail project to be radically scaled back. And HS2 managers are bracing themselves for new estimates which will show the cost has soared since 2019.

However, an unnamed minister said: “The North is crying out for infrastructure improvements, so I am astonished the one major northern project is set to be cancelled to fund the over-budget southern leg. It doesn’t demonstrate levelling-up in action.”