Manchester leg of HS2 will be scrapped within weeks – as Theresa May slams plan

THE MANCHESTER leg of HS2 will be scrapped within weeks – as Theresa May became the latest former PM to hit out at the plan.

Rishi Sunak has been weighing up whether to scale back the project to save many billions of pounds, or just delay it.

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But senior government sources said the PM will go bold and chop the branch shortly after their party conference, which kicks off in Manchester today.

An insider said: “What is the title of our conference? Long term decisions.

“Delaying is not a long term decision.”

Billions saved will go into crowd pleasing projects on roads, local trains and buses.

But in a blow for No10, Mrs May joined Boris Johnson and George Osborne in urging the PM not to scrap the Manchester HS2 leg.

Asked if the leg should be axed during a Q&A at Henley Literary Festival, Mrs May said: “The answer is no.”

She added: “I will give you two comments on HS2. First of all, we have to think about why HS2 was designed in the first place.

“It was because there was a lack of capacity on the West Coast Main Line.

“So if there is a lack of capacity on the West Coast Main Line, we need more railway capacity to serve the North West.”

She also urged Mr Sunak not to stop the route in Old Oak Common in west London, but to go the whole hog to Euston in central London.

She said: “So I am arguing with Government: ‘Don’t stop at Old Oak Common.

“You need to take it into Euston because my constituents will be disadvantaged if you don’t’.”