Rishi Sunak has been accused of the “biggest and most damaging U-turn in the history of UK infrastructure” by scrapping the northern leg of HS2, with a promise to divert £36bn into transport in the Midlands and north.
Critics said the prime minister’s “Network North” plan included schemes already under way or where funding was expected, as well as projects paused or cancelled under Sunak as chancellor or prime minister. Money due to be spent on HS2 will now be going into road schemes frozen just six months ago.
