Rishi Sunak unveils £36bn ‘Network North’ transport scheme after halting HS2

THE PM yesterday unveiled a £36billion Network North transport scheme to ramp up rail and road travel.

Rishi Sunak said he was scrapping the costly HS2 link between Birmingham and Manchester.

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In a huge boost for travellers the cash saved will be spent on projects including an east-west rail link and a tram network for Leeds.

There will also be 70 major road upgrades including improvements to the M6 motorway and the A1 — and multiple resurfacing works across the country.

In his speech to the Tory conference in Manchester, Mr Sunak said: “No government has developed a more ambitious scheme for northern transport than our new Network North.

“I challenge anyone to tell me that all of that isn’t what the North really needs.”

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He argued the economic case for HS2 had weakened as business travel fell post-Covid.

But he said the £12billion plan to link Manchester and Liverpool will be protected.

A Midlands rail hub connecting 50 stations also got the green light.

The investment last night prevented the resignation of the Tory’s West Midlands mayor Andy Street, who called it “a good compromise”.

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But Manchester mayor Andy Burnham asked whether “this country has the will to prioritise the North of England”.

Former PM David Cameron said: “It will fuel the views of people who argue we can no longer think or act for the long term as a country.”