Scrapping the Birmingham to Manchester leg of HS2 could present a unique opportunity to level up, said Grant Shapps, implying that the decision was influenced by post-Covid travel trends.
Rishi Sunak is expected to announce the cancellation of the route during his keynote speech at the Conservative conference later today.
Shapps, the Defence Secretary, suggested that the money saved from abandoning the northern leg of HS2 could be allocated to other projects that promote leveling up.
When asked if eliminating the line would imply a departure from the government’s leveling up agenda, Shapps responded on GB News, “Absolutely not. In fact, we should wait for the Prime Minister’s speech.
“If he were to scrap the second leg of HS2… and redirect the funding elsewhere, we cannot judge without knowing how that money will be spent. This presents a fantastic leveling up opportunity. It amounts to billions, tens of billions of pounds. So, what could that budget be spent on?
“Given the changes brought about by Covid and the altered travel patterns, perhaps there are more worthwhile endeavors than constructing a high-speed rail line.”
Sunak is scheduled to deliver his speech just before noon, where he will pledge to break the 30-year-old status quo in British politics.
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