Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s decision to scrap the Manchester leg of HS2 was confirmed today – and sparked a huge debate.
The Prime Minister’s speech at the Conservative Party Conference, which took place in the former Manchester Central train station, officially announced the cancellation of Phase two of HS2, and revealed plans to reinvest the budget into new transport projects across the North.
But the PM’s decision sparked furious backlash from some politicians on social media.
Immediately after the announcement Colin Green, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Sheldon, took to X to say: “Cutting HS2 shows Sunak’s limited ambition. His future is short-sighted cuts and managed decline.”
While announcing HS2’s cancellation, the PM pledged to reinvest £36 billion into better transport across the north with the new plan – ‘Network North’.
This pledge also caused controversy – with Kate Osborne, Labour MP for Jarrow, referring to the pledge as “empty promises and pipe dreams”.
Louise Haigh, the Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, seemed to echo the concerns of “empty promises”, saying: “‘Network North’ sounds suspiciously like Northern Powerhouse Rail, which has been promised no less than 60 times by the Tories and in three election manifestos.”
However, many MPs appear to be backing the cancellation of HS2.
Theo Clarke, Conservative MP for Stafford, released a statement on X where she supported the PMs decision.
“The decision by the Prime Minister to cancel HS2 Phase 2 is the right one. It is pragmatic and it understands the project has become a huge white elephant.
“I commend the Prime Minister for having the guts to make this decision.”
It isn’t just MPs making their opinions on the decision clear though, as unions across the UK are also taking to social media to discuss the announcement.
Aslef, the UK Train Drivers’ Union, said: “This government is not levelling up – as it has repeatedly promised to do – but levelling down.
“This is not the modern railway of the future we were promised, but a dodgy decision based on bad advice that means millions of people will not be able to benefit.”
GMB, a general trade union representing more than half a million workers across the UK, also spoke out about the decision.
It is clear the announcement has sparked debate but only time will tell whether the decision will help or hinder transport across the north.
Feature image: Photo by Sam B on Unsplash
