Northern institutions urge Rishi Sunak not to cancel HS2 northern leg

Top businesses and institutions from across the north west have joined forces to write to Rishi Sunak to urge him not to cancel the Manchester leg of HS2.

Among the signatories are Manchester United, the University of Manchester and Manchester Airports Group.

It comes after reports that the prime minister has decided to cancel the Manchester leg of the high-speed rail project as costs spiral over £100bn. On Tuesday morning, Mr Sunak refused to confirm he will scrap the northern section of the rail-line, despite widespread reports the government had decided to pull the plug on the project with a Cabinet meeting to be held in Manchester ahead of the announcement.

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The Prime Minister, who remains in Manchester today for the Conservative party conference, could use his set-piece speech on Wednesday to announce the decision. There are reports he will say the money that would have been spent on HS2 will instead be diverted to other projects for the north.

Leaders from than 30 companies and business organisations across the north west have called on government to commit to building HS2 in full, describing the project as 'fundamental to the economic future of the whole of the country'.

The letter tells the PM: "In deciding on the future of HS2 you hold the future prosperity of the North and Midlands in your hands.

"As businesses with a deep interest in the long-term future of Manchester and the UK as a whole we urge you not to cancel HS2. It would be a major act of economic self-sabotage and damage our international standing as a place to do business. We recognise the