Labour members have voted in favour of building HS2 in full after Sir Keir Starmer failed to commit to reversing the decision to scrap the northern leg of the high-speed line.
Delegates at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool approved a motion which called on the party to commit to the high-speed rail project running to Manchester and Leeds.
Last week, Labour leader Sir Keir said he was unable to promise to reverse Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s announcement to scrap HS2 from the West Midlands to Manchester.
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However, the motion approved at Labour Party conference stated: “Conference reaffirms the Labour Party’s commitment to: a publicly owned railway; the delivery of infrastructure projects including HS2 in full in its original scope and Northern Powerhouse Rail; a rolling programme of electrification; making sure freight is part of the ongoing conversation about rail.”
Melissa Heywood, from Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA), said: “When it comes to HS2, dithering and delay by the Prime Minister is a scandal.
“Our Labour Party knows that building HS2 is vital for Britain in the decades yet to come.
“HS2 is vital for jobs and businesses at local, regional and national levels.
“That is why the national policy forum document states that HS2 must be built in full and that means all the way to both Manchester and Leeds.”
