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After days of frenzied speculation over the future of the flagship levelling up project, Sunak confirmed he was axing the Birmingham to Manchester line and would use the £36bn of savings to fund a number of other transport schemes, described as “Network North”.
Cameron led a torrent of criticism of the announcement, which it emerged was made without consulting the cabinet, parliament, local councils or Network Rail, saying it passed up a once-in-a-generation opportunity.
“It will help to fuel the views of those who argue that we can no longer think or act for the long-term as a country; that we are heading in the wrong direction,” he warned.
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https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/oct/04/sunak-sparks-tory-civil-war-with-scrapping-of-hs2-manchester-leg