Rishi Sunak defies critics including David Cameron over HS2 axe

Rishi Sunak defies critics including David Cameron over decision to axe northern section of HS2 saying ‘the facts have changed’ since predecessor was in No10 – as PM faces crunch Commons votes as he battles to quell Tory revolt

Rishi Sunak defended his decision to axe the northern leg of HS2 against criticism from his predecessors today, saying the financial situation had changed since they were in power.

The Prime Minister insisted he was right to pull the plug on the high-speed line north or Birmingham on cost grounds, despite a backlash from Tory MPs.

He also faced attacks from previous PMs David Cameron, Boris Johnson and Theresa May. Mr Cameron said the decision would fuel the view that Britain cannot act for the long-term and is ‘heading in the wrong direction’.

But when asked about their criticism in an interview this afternoon with LBC Mr Sunak reiterated what he said in his conference speech on Wednesday, saying: ‘The facts have changed.’

Mr Sunak will face crunch Commons votes on HS2 as he battles to quell a Tory revolt amid claims a substitute project has already been ditched. 

Rishi Sunak will face crunch Commons votes on HS2 as he battles to quell a Tory revolt amid claims a substitute project has already been ditched

The PM put downgrading HS2 at the heart of his conference speech on Wednesday, insisting it will free up £36billion for other transport improvements

Keir Starmer has refused to commit to reversing Rishi Sunak’s decision to axe HS2 if he replaces him in Downing Street

Government documents confirm that the PM will need to pass primary legislation after his decision to drop the Manchester leg.

However, while there is the threat of a rebellion from Conservative MPs angry about the move, it also poses problems for Keir Starmer.

The Labour leader has been accused of sitting on the fence about the scheme, refusing to commit to going ahead if he wins the general election.

Prior to taking charge of his party, Sir Keir opposed the rail project in the House of Commons and called for it to be abandoned altogether.

But Labour’s national policy forum blueprint for potential policies to put to voters at the next general election committed to building HS2 ‘in full’.

Mr Sunak has been criticised by senior Tories including Boris Johnson, David Cameron and Theresa May over cancelling parts of HS2.

But the defiant PM put the step at the heart of his conference speech on Wednesday, insisting it will free up £36billion for other transport improvements.  

An accounting officer assessment released yesterday confirms that the ‘decision to cancel parts of the HS2 programme will require primary legislation’.

That means there will need to be votes in Parliament, with Labour having to choose whether to oppose the plan or effectively wash their hands of the project by abstaining. 

During a round of regional broadcast interviews yesterday ahead of the Labour conference kicking off, Sir Keir declined to commit to building the Birmingham to Manchester leg or the already-abandoned eastern leg to Leeds if he becomes PM.

‘Well, firstly, what a fiasco,’ Sir Keir told ITV News’s Calendar.

‘After 13 years of failure to grip this project, they’ve now cancelled it, millions of pounds wasted and lots of promises broken.

‘I can’t stand here today and say to you that I’m committed to reversing that decision because they’ve blown such a big hole in the plan.’

He added: ‘I can’t commit to reverse the decision of yesterday. ‘

Pressed on whether he would make a decision on HS2 ahead of the general election, Sir Keir replied: ‘Look, I’m not committing to reversing that decision.

‘They are already making plans to release the land that was necessary for the next stage of the project, cuts into contracts.’

Labour has been in chaos over the issue of HS2 after it kept changing its stance.

Last month, its policy over the high-speed line’s future changed four times within as many days.

In a blueprint for the party’s next manifesto, it committed to building HS2 ‘in full’. This was contradicted within days when Labour’s election campaign co-ordinator Pat McFadden said the party would not commit to the project until it knew the full extent of the estimated cost overruns.

Just a day later shadow minister without portfolio Nick Thomas-Symonds and transport spokesman Louise Haigh pledged the party would build HS2 ‘in full’.

However, 24 hours later shadow Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq poured cold water on this by saying it ‘just wouldn’t be very responsible’ to commit to finishing HS2 without seeing the full costings.

Former prime ministers David Cameron and Boris Johnson have publicly criticised Mr Sunak’s decision.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper indicated yesterday that paying off contracts previously awarded for cancelled HS2 sections will cost hundreds of millions of pounds.

More than £2billion has already been spent on the Birmingham to Manchester leg which will now be wasted.

Mr Sunak has promised to use £36billion in savings from scrapping the Birmingham to Manchester part of HS2 on other transport projects across the country.

But the Government has since been accused of ‘misleading’ the public after an apparent pledge to reopen a railway line as part of the announcement was dropped 24 hours later.

The Prime Minister has massively downgraded the rail project by scrapping its northern leg between Birmingham and Manchester

Documents published on Wednesday revealed that the Leamside Line in Northumberland would be reopened using the money saved by axing HS2 north of Birmingham.

According to the Northern Echo, a document listing benefits to the North East stated: ‘The Leamside Line, closed in 1964, will also be reopened.’

But all reference to the line now appears to have been removed.

Transport minister Richard Holden told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the Government was now only ‘committed to looking into it’.

Henri Murison, chief executive of business group the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, wrote on social media platform X, formerly Twitter: ‘Yesterday we were led to believe this was happening – so I welcomed it.

‘Misleading the Northern Powerhouse Partnership and northern public (is) not a good way to build trust.

‘I’m writing to (rail minister) Huw Merriman today and will seek clarification urgently.

‘The Leamside Line is integral to Northern Powerhouse Rail and must be built in full.’

The 21-mile route runs between Pelaw, Gateshead and Tursdale, County Durham. It was closed as part of the Beeching cuts.

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