Backing for high-speed rail project

She had previously stopped short of backing the Government’s planned 250mph network linking London to Birmingham, Manchester and Yorkshire while the party carried out a review of transport policy.

But yesterday she said high-speed was the “only credible way” of increasing rail capacity between the North and South.

She called on the Government to “think again” about legislation that will only include planning powers to construct the line as far as Birmingham, saying it should include the full route rather than waiting for a future Bill to pave the way for the line to Leeds.