UK Business Demands Answers from PM on HS2 Rail Link Silence

Business leaders and organizations in northern England are frustrated over Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's delay in announcing a decision on whether to scrap or delay the northern leg of the HS2 high-speed rail project. While it is believed that the stretch from Birmingham to Manchester will likely be delayed, the lack of an official announcement has caused confusion and disappointment. The project's escalating costs and potential cancellation of the northern section have raised concerns among business leaders about the need for investment and the missed opportunity to level up the region. Scrapping the link to Manchester would reduce HS2 to a line between London and Birmingham, with work on this phase already well underway.