Boris: Cutting HS2 leg to Manchester would be 'betrayal'
MEN on Sunday|October 01, 2023
Former prime minister says 'we must be out of our minds'
PATRICK DALY
Boris: Cutting HS2 leg to Manchester would be 'betrayal'

BORIS Johnson has said delaying or cutting the HS2 route to Manchester would be a 'betrayal' of the North of England.

Writing in his Daily Mail column, the former Prime Minister said "we must be out of our minds" if Conservative ministers are considering cutting off "the northern legs" of the high-speed rail project. The latest intervention by the politician who secured a landslide win for the Tories at the 2019 election - a victory secured on the back of a pledge to create more opportunities outside London and the South East - comes as the party prepares to meet in Manchester for its annual autumn conference on Sunday.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak refused to be drawn on the future of phase two of HS2 during dozens of interviews with regional broadcasters on Thursday, telling BBC Radio Manchester that his government was focused on fixing potholes in roads, connecting towns and cities and investing in bus services.

And in an interview with The Sun, published on Friday, the Tory leader obfuscated when asked about whether 225mph trains would ever link Birmingham and Manchester. There has been widespread speculation in recent days that Mr Sunak is preparing to either scrap or delay HS2's Birmingham to Manchester leg after being warned the price tag may be £100 billion.

This story is from the October 01, 2023 edition of MEN on Sunday.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the October 01, 2023 edition of MEN on Sunday.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM MEN ON SUNDAYView All
Pep admits: We could not handle Cherries
MEN on Sunday

Pep admits: We could not handle Cherries

PEP Guardiola said that City were not 'clean' enough to cope with Bournemouth as they suffered their first Premier League defeat for 11 months.

time-read
1 min  |
November 03, 2024
United chiefs told me it was now or never
MEN on Sunday

United chiefs told me it was now or never

New Reds coach says he asked to stay at Sporting Lisbon until the end of the season, but he was given Old Trafford ultimatum

time-read
3 mins  |
November 03, 2024
Curzon boss Craig wants more magic moments in cup
MEN on Sunday

Curzon boss Craig wants more magic moments in cup

EVEN guiding his team to a shock victory over Mansfield would be unlikely to usurp Craig Mahon's favourite FA Cup memory.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 03, 2024
Any encounter with wild nature is memorable in some way
MEN on Sunday

Any encounter with wild nature is memorable in some way

COMEDIAN AND FORMER STRICTLY WINNER BILL BAILEY TALKS TO PRUDENCE WADE ABOUT THE ANIMALS THAT HAVE SHAPED HIS LIFE

time-read
4 mins  |
November 03, 2024
Drink-drive firefighter 'haunted by tragedies
MEN on Sunday

Drink-drive firefighter 'haunted by tragedies

Single mum who was almost three times limit is handed fine

time-read
2 mins  |
November 03, 2024
Doubt over promised cash for North transport plans
MEN on Sunday

Doubt over promised cash for North transport plans

TWO major transport projects in the North of England have been thrown into doubt after Rachel Reeves failed to commit to funding pledges made by the previous Conservative government.

time-read
1 min  |
November 03, 2024
Law change could end out-of-area taxis issue
MEN on Sunday

Law change could end out-of-area taxis issue

TAXIS licensed by Wolverhampton council could be BANNED from working in Greater Manchester with a proposed law change.

time-read
1 min  |
November 03, 2024
How a quiet night in lab changed science
MEN on Sunday

How a quiet night in lab changed science

Miracle material created in city is 200 times stronger than steel

time-read
4 mins  |
November 03, 2024
'As long as Barry can see pals at the pub, he'll be OK ra
MEN on Sunday

'As long as Barry can see pals at the pub, he'll be OK ra

Dad's devastating MND diagnosis

time-read
2 mins  |
November 03, 2024
The chilly reception to exit of Iceland
MEN on Sunday

The chilly reception to exit of Iceland

How the closure of suburb's last cheap shop' symbolises a change that some residents would prefer hadn't happened

time-read
4 mins  |
November 03, 2024