Ministers urged to commit on HS2 route to Leeds

THE GOVERNMENT should commit to progressing with the HS2 route to Leeds, Labour’s Shadow Transport Minister said.

Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi told the Commons Labour also accepted the Lords amendments and warned the Government is failing to “get a grip” on the project.

He said: “I am deeply concerned about the Government’s approach and commitment to HS2. Yet again it seems the Government are overspending and under-delivering.

“They repeat ad nauseam about levelling up the North but their continuing refusal to commit to delivering HS2 in full, including the Phase 2B leg to Leeds and their 40 per cent budget cut to Transport for the North, is the exact opposite of levelling up.

“I sincerely hope that cities like Leeds are not going to miss out on the benefits of HS2 due to Government failure to get a grip of ballooning costs.”

Earlier the Government accepted amendments made by the Lords on a Bill relating to the HS2 line to Crewe.

Transport Minister Andrew Stephenson said it was important to pass the High Speed Rail (West Midlands-Crewe) Bill without further delay.

He told the Commons: “Already this Bill has taken far longer to go through Parliament than was anticipated when the legislation was introduced in July 2017.

“I do not want to delay it further today.

“I want this section of the railway to be built so we hasten the benefits of HS2 to the North as soon as possible.”

On accepting a new consultation for those impacted by the route, he said: “There has already been considerable consultation with the people of Shropshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire.

“Nevertheless, I think that accepting this amendment is the right thing to do. As minister for HS2 I have been charged with resetting the relationship between the HS2 project and local communities.”