Call for HS2’s Eastern leg to be delivered in full

A group of 53 MPs, civic and business leaders from across the Midlands and the North have written to Boris Johnson calling for the full delivery of HS2’s Eastern leg from Birmingham to Leeds. In a letter to the Prime Minister, the cross-party group cites a new report which demonstrates stark social and economic inequalities between the Eastern and Western regions of the Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Engine.

The letter which references “Mind the gap: The role of HS2’s Eastern leg in bridging England’s east-west divide”, a document authored by campaign group HS2 East, states: “For generations the people living in these areas have been overlooked.”

The letter highlights that communities surrounding the Eastern leg of HS2 Phase 2b suffer from lower productivity, poorer social mobility and receive lower levels of transport investment than communities surrounding its Western leg, set to run between Birmingham and Manchester. In fact the disparity between the two sides of the country shows that productivity along the Eastern Leg of HS2 Phase 2b is ten per cent lower than along its Western Leg.

However the letter states it does “not wish to create divisions with the regions on the Western leg” and highlights that the delivery fo HS2 “has a significant role [to play] in this country’s recovery from Covid-19”.

Signatories state that HS2’s Eastern leg is an essential investment to address these inequalities, which will catalyse huge regeneration schemes across the East Midlands, Yorkshire and North East, creating over 150,000 highly-skilled jobs.

Writing ahead of the Government’s Integrated Rail Plan which is examining how best to integrate Phase 2b of HS2 with Midlands Engine Rail and Northern Powerhouse Rail the leaders are clear that all HS2 phases must be delivered in full, with both the Eastern and Western Legs built to the same time scale.

Hilary Benn, MP for Leeds Central, said: “We know that the full economic potential of the North is not being tapped and that children who grow up poor in the eastern regions of the Midlands and the North are more likely to stay poor and less likely to achieve social mobility. We need to do something about this, and investment in HS2’s eastern leg will help to create jobs, unlock regeneration and increase productivity that our communities need if these divisions are to be reduced.”

Henri Murison, director of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said: “Unless HS2 is delivered in full to both Manchester and Leeds, and integrated with Northern Powerhouse Rail, the North will never see the economic transformation it needs and deserves and the Northern Powerhouse will remain a pipe dream.

“If we are truly to level up the UK, and create a country where young people have the same prospects wherever they come from, HS2 will have a major role to play. The Prime Minister guaranteed in February that HS2 would be delivered in full; Northern businesses and communities will not look kindly on any wavering on that commitment.”

The letter’s signatories include:

Cllr Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council, co-chair of the HS2 East Partnership

Cllr Kay Cutts, leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, co-chair of the HS2 East Partnership

Lord Patrick McLoughlin, former transport secretary

Lord Andrew Adonis, former transport secretary

Hilary Benn MP, Leeds Central

Clive Betts MP, Sheffield South East

Sarah Champion MP, Rotherham

Judith Cummins MP, Bradford South

Julie Elliott MP, Sunderland Central

Tim Farron MP, Westmorland and Lonsdale

Lilian Greenwood MP, Nottingham South

Diana Johnson MP, Kingston upon Hull North

Fabian Hamilton MP, Leeds North East

Darren Henry MP, Broxtowe

Kevin Hollinrake MP, Thirsk and Malton

Paul Howell MP, Sedgefield

Ian Lavery MP, Wansbeck

Holly Lynch MP, Halifax

Jason McCartney MP, Colne Valley

Catherine McKinnell MP, Newcastle-upon-Tyne North

Ian Mearns MP, Gateshead

Nigel Mills MP, Amber Valley

Grahame Morris MP, Easington

Alex Norris MP, Nottingham North

Toby Perkins MP, Chesterfield

Craig Whittaker MP, Calder Valley

Baroness Burt of Solihull

The Rt Hon, Baroness Morgan of Coates

Lord Newby

Lord Wallace of Saltaire

Lord Shutt of Greetland

Cllr Martin Gannon, Leader of Gateshead Council and Chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee

Cllr Tricia Gilby, leader, Chesterfield Borough Council

Cllr Chris Poulter, leader, Derby City Council

Cllr Nicholas Rushton, leader, Leicestershire County Council

Sir Peter Soulsby, city mayor, Leicester City Council and chair of Transport for the East Midlands

Cllr Simon Spencer, deputy leader, Derbyshire County Council

Cllr Ian Ward, leader, Birmingham City Council and transport portfolio lead for the West Midlands Combined Authority

Corin Crane, CEO, Black Country Chamber of Commerce

Pat Doody, chairman, Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership

Dawn Edwards, president, East Midlands Chamber of Commerce

Elizabeth Fagan, chairman, D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership

Paul Faulkner, CEO, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce

Dan Fell, CEO, Doncaster Chamber of Commerce

Kevin Harris, chairman, Leicester and Leicestershire Local Enterprise Partnership

Matt Jackson, president, Sheffield Chamber of Commerce

Scott Knowles, CEO, East Midlands Chamber

Maria Machancoses, director, Midlands Connect

Henri Murison, director, Northern Powerhouse Partnership

Sandy Needham, CEO, West & North Yorkshire Chamber, West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce

James Ramsbotham CBE, CEO, North East Chamber of Commerce

Paul Robinson, chairman, Rail Forum Midlands

Sharon Smith, CEO, Hereford and Worcester Chamber of Commerce