Cross-party call for Leeds stretch of HS2 to be treated the same as Manchester line

Politicians have joined together to call on the Government to build the Leeds section of HS2 at the same time as the link connecting Manchester to the project.

Conservative and Labour MPs, as well as Liberal Democrat peers and on-affiliated peers, have written to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps saying any delays would cost the economy £1.7bn a year, amid concerns the western stretch would take precedence.

Cllr Judith Blake, Leader of Leeds City Council and who jointly leads the HS2 East Group, said: “Every year that HS2 is delayed will cost the Leeds City Region’s economy £1.7bn.

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“Leeds and the wider city region has already aligned its plans for economic growth and regeneration, skills and transport around HS2 and wider rail and public transport investment.

HS2 sign near the village of South Heath in Buckinghamshire. Photo: PAHS2 sign near the village of South Heath in Buckinghamshire. Photo: PA
HS2 sign near the village of South Heath in Buckinghamshire. Photo: PA

“Businesses, investors, educational and other stakeholders in the public and private sectors are already making decisions based on HS2’s arrival in the region with a projected £54bn economic gain. Failing to commit to its construction will critically undermine both investor confidence in our towns and cities and our ability to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The Government has indicated it will bring forward legislation as soon as is practical on the western leg of phase 2b into Manchester but so far given no timetable for the legislation that would be required for the eastern leg, known as HS2 East, which would link Leeds to Birmingham - and London - via the East Midlands and Sheffield.

Politicians made clear they supported joining up HS2 with Northern Powerhouse Rail – dubbed High Speed North – but said during the current pause HS2 West is getting unfair prioritisation. Jason McCartney, MP for Colne Valley and one of three Conservative MPs to sign the letter, said: “I agree with HS2 Minister, Andrew Stephenson, who recently told the Transport Select Committee that ‘we cannot delay work on our long-term plan to level-up the country’.

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“The North will be hit hard by the Covid-19 crisis and therefore we need clarity and certainty from the Integrated Rail Plan. The Leeds City Region is key to unlocking the North’s economic recovery and must not be left behind.”

Hilary Benn, MP for Leeds Central and one of five Labour MPs to sign the letter, said: “There is a compelling case for equal treatment of HS2’s eastern and western legs of HS2.

“In fact, the economic benefits of the eastern leg are greater than those of the western leg.

“HS2 East will reshape the UK’s economic geography, bringing together the city regions centred on Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham and Birmingham into an economic zone larger than London – with over 13m people, six million jobs and some of the UK’s most significant manufacturing and business clusters.”

Those who signed the letter were:

- Hilary Benn, Labour MP for Leeds Central

- Jason McCartney, Conservative MP for Colne Valley

- Holly Lynch, Labour MP for Halifax

- Kevin Hollinrake, Conservative MP for Thirsk and Malton

- Tracy Brabin, Labour MP for Batley and Spen

- Craig Whitaker, Conservative MP for Calder Valley

- Judith Cummins, Labour MP for Bradford South

- Fabian Hamilton, Labour MP for Leeds North East

- Lord Wallace of Saltaire, Liberal Democrat Peer

- Lord Patel of Bradford, Non-affiliated Peer

- Lord Shutt of Greetland, Liberal Democrat Peer

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