Prominent business leaders and local politicians have written to the Treasury warning that failure to build the HS2 line would be a disaster for the Midlands and the north of England, according to The Times.

The paper covers the letter sent to Liz Truss, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, saying that the decision to cancel the high-speed train line would harm Britain’s ‘national prosperity for decades to come’. ‘Altogether, city regions around the route have plans to create nearly 500,000 jobs and add billions to the UK economy,’ it said.

Stage one of the line is due to be opened in 2026, with the full scheme completed by 2033. But calls for it to be scrapped have increased after fears have increased that it cannot be delivered within the £56 billion budget.

The looming prospect of a Conservative leadership contest also means that new leader might scrap the line after taking office.

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→ The Times - Scrapping HS2 would be economic disaster, Treasury warned