George Osbourne warns Rishi Sunak scrapping HS2 to Manchester would be ‘act of vandalism’

Senior Tories have spoken out against the Prime Minister’s wavering decision on whether to axe the northern leg of the HS2 rail line.

Former Conservative chancellor George Osborne said not continuing with the line from Birmingham to Manchester would be “a gross act of vandalism” and would leave a whole section of the UK “abandoned” by the Government.

The scheme has faced delay and cuts already – with a previously planned leg of the route between Birmingham and Leeds already axed. The last official estimate on HS2 costs, excluding the cancelled eastern section, added up to about £71bn.