Labour leader Kier Starmer has said he would not commit to reverse Rishi Sunak’s decision to scrap the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the bullet train
He said during interviews with regional TV programmes this afternoon that he would push ahead with whatever transport projects the PM announced at Conservative conference.
He said the Government’s decision to cancel HS2 contracts and release land intended for the project meant he could not promise to build the second leg of the project.
“Now can I stand here and commit to reversing the decision on HS2? No, I can’t. Not least because the Government’s already releasing land between Birmingham and Manchester,” he said.
Asked if he could commit to high speed rail in full, he said:
“No, I can’t make that commitment. That’s what we wanted. That’s what was promised under this Government. But they’ve just blown a massive hole through it and are about to start canceling the contracts, releasing the land, reconfiguring Euston. So I can’t stand here and commit to reversing that decision.
Meanwhile there appears to be problems at the other end of the track as it is being reported that HS2 could still end up terminating at Old Oak Common in west London if the government fails to secure the private investment needed to finance the tweaked Euston station plan.
