Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham urges Government to 'Save HS2'

Tuesday, 3 October 2023 21:03

By Adam Clark

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has urged the Government to save HS2 as the Prime Minister looks to axe the section of the line to Manchester.

Various media reports say the high speed rail line will start at Euston rather than Old Oak Common, but between Birmingham and Manchester, it will not be high-speed.

The rail line will stop in Manchester, but from Birmingham, it will switch to use existing West Coast Mainline track.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham addressed the media in the last hour alongside Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig.

He said: "We are here to say to the PM, meeting just yards from where we are now, that he must hear the voice of people in Manchester."

"Do not pull the plug on this city while you are in this city," he adds.

Leaders from than 30 companies and business organisations have called on government to commit to building HS2 in full, describing the project as “fundamental to the economic future of the whole of the country”.

Large and small businesses, from a diverse range of sectors, have signed up to a letter, released earlier this afternoon.

All of Manchester City Council's Labour councillors were summoned to the steps of Central Library in the city centre to support Mayor Burnham and Cllr Craig.

Number 10 has said that they don't comment on speculation.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will close the Conservative party conference tomorrow.

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