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A cost estimate suggested that the government has already spent \u00a32.3 billion on stage two of the railway from Birmingham to Manchester but that ditching the northern phase could save up to \u00a334 billion.<\/p>\n
The Department of Transport is said to have worked up a package of alternative projects – rail, bus and road schemes – which could be funded from money saved by ditching the project.<\/p>\n
Dame Priti Patel, former Home Secretary, said cancelling the northern leg of HS2 is a “pretty drastic step forward”.<\/p>\n
She added: \u201cI think there’s a lot of questions to ask about how he reached that decision? What kind of work have they done, what kind of analysis, what kind of assumptions?<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd have they actually literally gone into all the scenarios around viability? And what is the case that they’re going to make to say, no, we’re not going to go ahead with it.”<\/p>\n
Don’t miss… <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n Andy Street, the Tory mayor of the West Midlands, warned the Prime Minister he will be wasting a \u201conce in a generation opportunity to level up\u201d if he scraps the Birmingham to Manchester leg.<\/p>\n He insisted he \u201cwon\u2019t let HS2 go without a fight\u201d, adding: \u201cThe offer to the PM is there – work with me and the private sector, grip the costs, and build Britain\u2019s future.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said that axing the northern leg of HS2 would be the \u201cdesperate act of a dying government\u201d.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cThis was the parliament when the north of England was being levelled up with the rest of the country and here we are at the end of it.<\/p>\n \u201cIf they\u2019re about to pull the plug, that would just be a desperate act of a dying government with nowhere left to go. At the very least they should preserve the decision for the next government so they can deliver what the north of England has been promised.\u201d<\/p>\n
HS2 leg to Manchester ‘axed’ with billions moved to transport projects in north[POLITICS] <\/strong>
HS2 bosses haven\u2019t got a leg to stand on says James Whale[COMMENT] <\/strong>
Everyone understands why it’s time to convert our energy supplies[COMMENT] <\/strong><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/4990260.jpg?r=1696317092847\")
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