Speculation over the future of the HS2 high-speed railway project continues to intensify as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faces pressure to make a decision on whether to scrap or delay construction of the northern leg of the train line. Business leaders in Manchester, one of the destinations for the second phase of HS2, have expressed concerns about the project's future and described a potential scrapping or delay of the northern leg as a betrayal by the government.

I wasn’t expecting this in Manchester, but I won’t let HS2 go without a fight.

The offer to the PM is there - work with me and the private sector, grip the costs, and build Britain’s future. pic.twitter.com/JYBdkbGxHS

— Andy Street (@andy4wm) October 2, 2023

The prime minister has insisted that he will not be forced into a premature decision, emphasizing the need to make the right long-term decisions for the country. The current Victorian infrastructure connecting Leeds and Manchester is already strained, leading to frequent delays and cancellations. Northern leaders argue that HS2 is vital for "leveling up" and improving east-west rail connections between Manchester airport and the city center. They warn that without HS2, the goal of leveling up will be compromised. However, with the escalating costs of the project and calls for a review, there are concerns that the northern section of HS2 may be axed.

In his interviews, Sunak acknowledged the enormous amount of taxpayers' money involved in the project and stressed the need for careful consideration. The budget for HS2 has already ballooned, reaching £98 billion by 2019 and projected to rise to £106 billion. Critics argue that every delay adds to the project's expenses. Supporters of HS2, including former Conservative chancellor George Osborne, consider it to be a crucial infrastructure project for leveling up and believe that investing in other northern rail infrastructure is not a substitute for the high-speed project.

They express hope that the cabinet will stick with the policy of previous administrations and proceed with the project. Amidst the uncertainty, business and civic leaders in the north of England express growing concerns about the future of the region's transport infrastructure plans, which are closely linked to HS2. They question whether the government will cancel those plans as well, jeopardizing the northern powerhouse initiative and undermining the broader goals of infrastructure development and achieving a net-zero agenda. The situation has raised criticism and confusion about the prime minister's intentions and his commitment to HS2.