Sunak’s ‘spiteful’ sale of land intended for HS2 dashes hopes of revival

Prime minister's move criticised as salting the earth' so Birmingham-Crewe line cannot be built

A future Labour government would not be able to easily reverse Rishi Sunak's decision to scrap the northern leg of HS2 as he has spitefully" authorised the sale of properties that were subject to compulsory purchase orders on part of the route.

Steve Rotheram, the mayor of the Liverpool city region, said the move killed HS2 stone dead" and would tie any future government's hands and make the delivery of HS2 for the north all but impossible".