>According to sources close to the project, Ministers have re-evaluated the cost-benefit of HS2 and concluded the line should continue beyond Birmingham.
>It would reverse a decision made by the then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at his party’s conference last year.
>The route was originally scheduled to connect London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, but was scaled back by the previous Conservative government who scrapped ‘Phase 2’.
>Phase 2a was to connect the West Midlands to Crewe, whilst ‘Phase 2b’ was from Crewe to Manchester.
>LBC understands that Sir Keir Starmer is preparing to reverse the change to ‘Phase 2a’, as the route already has parliamentary approval – meaning the line will run from the capital beyond Birmingham to Crewe.
>Insiders have told LBC that the Prime Minister held private discussions on the matter at last month’s Labour Party conference and that the government had been planning to make a formal announcement in the new year.
1 Comment
>According to sources close to the project, Ministers have re-evaluated the cost-benefit of HS2 and concluded the line should continue beyond Birmingham.
>It would reverse a decision made by the then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at his party’s conference last year.
>The route was originally scheduled to connect London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, but was scaled back by the previous Conservative government who scrapped ‘Phase 2’.
>Phase 2a was to connect the West Midlands to Crewe, whilst ‘Phase 2b’ was from Crewe to Manchester.
>LBC understands that Sir Keir Starmer is preparing to reverse the change to ‘Phase 2a’, as the route already has parliamentary approval – meaning the line will run from the capital beyond Birmingham to Crewe.
>Insiders have told LBC that the Prime Minister held private discussions on the matter at last month’s Labour Party conference and that the government had been planning to make a formal announcement in the new year.
!ping UK