Vision ‘ is pipedream without HS2 route’

THE HEAD of a North of England pressure group has claimed the Government’s Northern Powerhouse vision could become a “pipedream” if HS2 does not reach Leeds in the coming years, as calls to make the scheme a reality intensify today.

Regional MPs and council leaders are calling on the Prime Minister to make a strong commitment for plans for the “eastern” leg of David Cameron’s flagship high- speed rail scheme, which would run from Birmingham to Leeds.

Henri Murison, the director of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, has now added his voice to the calls, claiming northern businesses would not look kindly on the Government if the scheme were shelved.

Mr Murison said: “Unless HS2 is delivered in full to both Manchester and Leeds, and integrated with Northern Powerhouse Rail, the North will never see the economic transformation it needs and deserves and the Northern Powerhouse will remain a pipe dream.

“If we are truly to level up the UK, and create a country where young people have the same prospects wherever they come from, HS2 will have a major role to play. The Prime Minister guaranteed in February that HS2 would be delivered in full; Northern businesses and communities will not look kindly on any wavering on that commitment.”

His comments come as MPs, civic and business leaders have ritten to Boris Johnson, calling for the full delivery of HS2’ s Eastern Leg. The group cited a new report showing social and economic inequalities between the Eastern and Western regions.