when he was chancellor, that they would deliver this hs2 network for the whole country and northern powerhouseg deterred. we will see international investors put off coming to the uk. on thursday, the chancellor insisted no decisions had been made. but as the journey towards finishing the first part of hs2 continues, its final destination once again seems unclear. katy austin, bbc news. thousands of workers in america's car industry have gone on strike, potentially raising prices and disrupting an industry that makes up about 3% of the entire us economy. the united auto workers union said strikes are expanding against detroit auto—makers general motors and stellantis, but not ford. the uaw wants pay rises and an end to a system allowing newer hires to be paid less, among other demands. the autoworkers' union is now striking against 38 more plants across the us. it represents more than 140,000 workers at the big three detroit automakers. in total, there are now 18,300 auto employees on strike. it's as presidentjoe biden announced that he'lljoin workers on the picket line on tuesday, saying "it'

to boris johnson's in from the northern powerhouse to borisjohnson's levelling up.ltogether orjust budgets up and says there will be a delay and they cannot commit to this leg of its right now, that the effect is the same, it speaks to a sort of sense of paralysis and an inability to get things done. fine inability to get things done. one would presume _ inability to get things done. one would presume that if they stop the plan, labour could pick it up again in the year. has there been any and from sir kier starmer?— from sir kier starmer? labour are sa int from sir kier starmer? labour are saying they _ from sir kier starmer? labour are saying they cannot _ from sir kier starmer? labour are saying they cannot make - from sir kier starmer? labour are saying they cannot make any - saying they cannot make any commitments without having looked very closely at the figures. you think that it is entirely possible that labour could get in and run with it, but on the other hand, they could use rishi sunak rolling back from this is a very convenient excuse to do exactly the s

but not talking about the northern powerhouse rail.— not talking about the northern powerhouse rail. use rail. but the two are | linked. all railway lines are linked ultimately- _ linked. all railway lines are linked ultimately. that _ linked. all railway lines are linked ultimately. that is _ linked. all railway lines are linked ultimately. that is not _ linked. all railway lines are linked ultimately. that is not what - linked. all railway lines are linked ultimately. that is not what we i linked. all railway lines are linked | ultimately. that is not what we are talking about here and it is conflating two separate issues. pare conflating two separate issues. are ou sa inc conflating two separate issues. are you saying the improvements can go ahead on the northern powerhouse rail even if hs2 manchester —— birmingham to manchester doesn't? you will forgive me, i'm not a transport secretary. the point i'm trying to make is that every government has to look at the overall budgets and then make serious decisions which go beyond the sort of back—and—forth like this, to say, is this affor

he used to talk a lot about northern powerhouse . and of northern powerhouse.t was supposed to originally be with one fork to leeds that was axed in 2021 and one fork from birmingham to manchester that seems in doubt. they're also talking about northern powerhouse rail and saying that that also now needs to be delivered in full. we've had a lot of focus of getting in and out of london quicker north south connectivity , but we also south connectivity, but we also need from the east to the west now, northern powerhouse rail also being described as hs3 . and also being described as hs3. and there seems to be no firm plans in place . it tends to be always in place. it tends to be always changing, but fundamentally it's for high speed trains to go from liverpool to manchester on to leeds and then ultimately to connect with hull on the east coast and up to newcastle and to link all these great northern cities and to capitalise on all the economic benefits that that would bring . now, oliver coppard would bring. now, oliver coppard is the mayor of west yorkshire . is

that was always the plan with also a northern powerhouse rail across the pennines linking liverpool,s and hull. gradually, bits had been lopped off particularly the eastern leg. that was taken away two years ago, instead of that there is supposed to be one running as far as east midlands airport. now, we don't believe, or rather the government said in the spring, that it was committed from delivering from london euston to manchester. it looks as though we might be stuck with simply a high—speed link between birmingham and a place called 0ld 0ak common in west london where you get off your train and get on to an elizabeth line train. everyone is up in arms about this from the rail industry, from northern offices because it is simply the opposite of levelling up. the environmentalists are upset away their land has been dug up. and everyone is desperately upset. the hs2 parade has been well and truly rained on and it seems to be simply a matter of failing to specify exactly what it is, chopping and changing, all in which, every time a decision is taking add billions to the bill which is

are better value for public money, like an east—west line in the north of england known as northern powerhouseg rail and road infrastructure. yet there are other important economic considerations to the parts of the hs2 project that are apparently under threat. the birmingham—manchester leg are the very bits of a higher estimated value for money and there are wider economic costs, as we've seen associated with government starting and stopping big transport infrastructure projects. and nick's here to give us the latest from westminster. what's going on? today, rishi sunak wasn't exactly sounding like hs2�*s greatest fan forced up he was asked about the speculation over a delay or scrapping of the second leg from birmingham to manchester and he said is committed to levelling up, which is committed to levelling up, which is obviously the entire theme of h52, but is obviously the entire theme of hs2, but he said thatjust about big rail projects, it could be improved local bus services in dealing with the potholes. it really does look like this prime minister is going to need some very serious conv

leaders and companies including manchester airports group, british land, virgin money and the northern powerhouserenewed commitment to hs2. the letter expresses deep concern over the constant uncertainty over the project, adding that repeated mixed signals were damaging the uk�*s reputation as a place to do business. i hope the prime minister takes the weekend to reflect on being a northern mp and what he should be putting first. the future of the country, or the short—term interests of the conservative party. because former tory leaders and britain�*s leading business people are all telling him he needs to think again before he makes what might be his worst decision as prime minister. today, the chair of the national infrastructure commission warned against truncating the line. the importance of this railway line is that it connects the three principal cities in britain, london, birmingham, manchester. it's a significant part of the government's levelling up agenda, it has already started to create big opportunities in birmingham and it will do the same in manchester and across the north west. i

mr shapps would not comment on whether or not separate plans for the northern powerhouse rail scheme d, even if the northern section of hs2 is scrapped. labour's been accused of sending mixed messages on hs2. we are supportive of h52 being built, but we're responding to rumour and leak. and, look, victoria, this is a really important infrastructure project. what i say on your show matters because we, the labour party, hope to be in government next year. we're not going to make decisions about national infrastructure projects that involve tens of billions of pounds without all of the information being available. this weekend, business groups and political voices have been lobbying the government not to truncate hs2 further. in a letter organised by the rail industry, the leaders of 21 firms warn that discarding the leg to manchester will have serious implications for the uk economy. with pressure mounting, it's thought a decision could come as soon as the coming week. noor nanji, bbc news. now it's time for a look at today's sport with 0lly foster. hello from the bbc sport centre. it i

his idea is the northern powerhouse. these are two.i'll think the white, the think of the white, the whitehall bubble certainly whitehall bubble and certainly george osborne originally found the for money hs2, so he's vital for too . so these for the project too. so these are off because they're are noises off because they're not in power right now. it's irritating 10 that irritating for number 10 that they're all, they're speaking at all, i imagine, the problem imagine, because the problem they've government in they've got in government is in flation, soaring trying flation, is soaring and trying to living to tackle the cost of living crisis ahead and and crisis and get ahead and try and build big projects . build these big projects. >> we've heard from the >> i mean, we've heard from the tory this week, haven't tory grandees this week, haven't we? fighting talk from we? now fighting talk from andy burnham exclusive burnham in that exclusive interview with and hear interview with you and we hear from burnham , don't we, in from andy b

now to councillor bev craig, labour leader of manchester city council and board member of the northern powerhouseur reaction to those comments from grant shapps. i your reaction to those comments from grant shawn-— your reaction to those comments from grant shanna-— grant shapps. i would say we are reaponding- _ grant shapps. i would say we are reaponding- as — grant shapps. i would say we are responding. as the _ grant shapps. i would say we are responding. as the leader- grant shapps. i would say we are responding. as the leader i - grant shapps. i would say we are responding. as the leader i metl grant shapps. i would say we are i responding. as the leader i met the mare is the missing position, no one in government has a purchase as a cities to talk about it. now of course, you would expect a government of the day to be looking closely to how they are spending the money. but what i would say is this once in a generation opportunity to invest in infrastructure to the north from the south for people travelling both ways for much—needed capacity on our line is something that cannot simply be bru

which people do sometimes call hs3, which is it gets called a few different things, basically northern powerhousee of it example. but the essence of it is connecting the key northern cities. now. andy burnham there speaking very passionately aaron. and you know, the suggestion is based xl bully westminster are almost dictating to the north what is and isn't to the north what is and isn't to going happen. this is quite a lot of speculation at the moment whether or not they were going to scrap this manchester leg, which would very bold move, which would be a very bold move, by way, because of course, by the way, because of course, the going to be in the conference is going to be in manchester, the tory conference imminently. but anyway, it imminently. but anyway, when it comes connecting imminently. but anyway, when it corr north, connecting imminently. but anyway, when it corr north, do connecting imminently. but anyway, when it corrnorth, do you connecting imminently. but anyway, when it corr north, do you think|necting imminently. but anyway, when it corr north, do you think there'sj the north,

entire life and represent a northern constituency, for me, the absolute top priority must be northern powerhouseor the north of england. the challenge of cancelling phase two of hs2 for some of that is shared infrastructure, so when the prime minister and his ministers make a decision, i will be listening very carefully, because i want to ensure that that cross rail for the north is built for my constituents. i don't think it should be an either or, by the way, because people in london didn“t or, by the way, because people in london didn't have to decide between itjust london didn't have to decide between it just will not london didn't have to decide between itjust will not hs2, they got both. they didn't decide between crossrail one and crossrail two, they got both. the north i“m one and crossrail two, they got both. the north i'm sure it needs both, but we have to give up one, i would give up hs2 in favour of that east—west connectivity. we would give up h52 in favour of that east-west connectivity.— would give up h52 in favour of that east-west connectivity. we have gone over to issues — east

uncertainty over the delivery of hs2 and says repeated mixed signals on hs2 and its related northern powerhouseas a place to do business.— the uk as a place to do business. �* , , , _, , business. business community in north of england _ business. business community in north of england and _ business. business community in north of england and the - north of england and the business community in london and across the wider country have been promised by the government on many many occasions including by the current prime minister when he was chancellor that they would deliver this hs2 network for the whole country and powerhouse rail connected to it. if that is taken away then we will see investment in deterred, we will see international investors put off coming to the uk. fin international investors put off coming to the uk. on thursday, the chancellor _ coming to the uk. on thursday, the chancellor insisted - coming to the uk. on thursday, the chancellor insisted that - coming to the uk. on thursday, the chancellor insisted that no | the chancellor insisted that no decisions had been made but a

hs2 two to be delayed, if it is going to be delayed, he would like some focus on parts of the northern powerhouse decision has yet been taken but we have been expecting something in the coming days not least because, at the weekend, the conservative party will be gathering in for their annual conference and they have chosen this year to meet in manchester in what used to be an abandoned train station so it could be a little awkward if we don't have any news between now and then. thanks very much for that. around the world and across the uk, you're watching bbc news. bbc news. it is fair to say the shop has stood the test of time. once owned by anne boleyn's father, it has been serving this village since the 15th century. now, its current owners of reluctantly putting this remarkable piece of history back on the market. the one thing i do think about is the size of the front door because it is a hinged door and if you look at the step that is so worn out but i hope that it will go to a good pair of hands. the shop's beauty and its history has meant it as featured in films and dramas watched by mil

connecting the cities of the north to each other, before connecting those cities to london —— northern powerhouseiding the answer to the publicjust yet. we not comfortable providing the answer to the publicjust yet.— to the public 'ust yet. we know this ro'ect is to the publicjust yet. we know this project is already — to the publicjust yet. we know this project is already way _ to the publicjust yet. we know this project is already way over - to the publicjust yet. we know this project is already way over budget, | project is already way over budget, do we know when we will get any clarity from the prime minister or from any of his departments? ida. clarity from the prime minister or from any of his departments? no, we don't. from any of his departments? no, we don't- there — from any of his departments? no, we don't. there was _ from any of his departments? no, we don't. there was some _ from any of his departments? no, we don't. there was some suggestion . don't. there was some suggestion over recent days that we might get clarity this week and there is a particular coincidence, coincidental r

we saw him in that report, but let's talk to henry from the northern powerhouse partnership.e cause of rebalancing this country| cause of rebalancing this country for another 100 years. we have worked so hard for the last 1.5 decades, many even longer, to actually get this railway as far as it has got, but the real benefits of h52 it has got, but the real benefits of hs2 don't actually come until you get to those northern cities like manchester, to places like crewe, and we have already lost the commitment to a all the way to leeds, which has been a huge issue there. the other concern we have, as borisjohnson has highlighted in the newspapers today, is that because hsz newspapers today, is that because hs2 is partially used to go east to west, people in liverpool and warrington will not get the going towards leeds in cities like castle that they were promised. so it is fundamentally notjust that they were promised. so it is fundamentally not just about that they were promised. so it is fundamentally notjust about going to london. it basically throws in the air and to london.

to manchester, but the thing that the infrastructure to manchester for hs2 is also part of northern powerhouseto the humber and to hull, and without that, there is a huge hole in the financial business case for npr, and that is what is really causing concern. it is notjust about what is really causing concern. it is not just about the detriment to north — south connectivity but about west — east connectivity also. {line west - east connectivity also. one ofthe west - east connectivity also. one of the arguments _ west - east connectivity also. one of the arguments that _ west — east connectivity also. one of the arguments that has been made is that mostjourneys across the north west are made by car, and therefore improving the road network is what is crucial? that therefore improving the road network is what is crucial?— is what is crucial? that is really auoin to is what is crucial? that is really going to help — is what is crucial? that is really going to help climb _ is what is crucial? that is really going to help climb an - is what is crucial? that is really - going to help climb an emerg

but the lies about levelling up in northern powerhouse have in the northern powerhouse have come . cars outside london is because they deregulate buses and took 100 million bus journeys out the system . you journeys out of the system. you can't public transport where can't use public transport where it doesn't exist, but we do know where you build it. they will come. and the success of the elizabeth line, whether been elizabeth line, whether it been oversubscribed by 140,000 people per , using it more than we per day, using it more than we expected and will pay for itself in less than half a decade. it shows what can be done. >> are you with >> how concerned are you with the state of the railways in terms of the decline that we've seen post covid? we know fewer people are using the railways and obviously that's being continued by the ongoing strike action. i mean, that's, you know, inevitable, isn't it? but at what point do you think members of the public will turn around and say, well, we're never going to trust the railways again ? railways again? >> well, the government's own fi

george osborne and northern powerhouse boris johnson. they're all very attached to this. has always been massively controversial and the projected cost at the moment is about five times what new labour had originally we thought so . so had originally we thought so. so i think we're in damage limitation now and it sounds like obviously huge amounts of money have already been spent on it . it sounds like it's not it. it sounds like it's not going to go past birmingham and it also sounds perfectly possible all that it's going to stop an old oak common in north—west london and people would then have to decamp to the elizabeth line to get into central london, which i do think really, where is the argument of course, the cost of getting to euston is prodigious, but what is the point of having a high speed railway from somewhere not in central london to birmingham beyond a bit of capacity, but but there's plenty of people in the north of england horrified because, of course, levelling up.bons because, of course, levelling up. borisjohnson because, of course, levelling up. boris

someone who has represented a norther constituency, for me, the absolute top priority must be northern powerhouseill be listening very, very carefully because i want to ensure that that cross rail for at the north is built for my constituents. i don't think it should be either or, by the way, because people in london didn't have to decide between hs2, they got both. they didn't decide between cross railing across rail too, they got both. the north needs both but if we have to give up one, i would give up hs2 in favour of east—west connectivity. people in slovakia —— people in slovakia are voting in a fiercely contested general election, with the populist smair party promising to stop military aid to ukraine if it wins. the party is being challenged by the liberal progressive slovakia which promises to maintain support for kyiv. neither party is expected to win a majority. now to news of a significant advance in the treatment of prostate cancer. an international trial has found that thousands of men every year could be successfully treated with a more intense form of radiotherapy which would signi

branches to this, some people will as well, will talk about hs3 as well, northern rail all northern powerhouset these kind the rest of it. but these kind of projects, lots of them. now we've got to the point where we're budget, over time, we're over budget, over time, over one over complicated. now no one really what's going really knows what's going on. is it just to the whole it time just to sack the whole thing off? peter i think it probably is. >> i think we would, although doubtless is full doubtless the contract is full of include of clauses which include enormous penalties for doing so, it will still cost us less if we cut it off. now if we carry on ludicrously hoping that it will ever be finished or do any good, it was a stupid idea in the first place. one of the reasons why it's being built is because nobody anymore studies the basic subject of geography and didn't look at a map. the landscape and size of this country simply isn't suited to high speed rail . we don't need it. what we need in this country is medium speed rail between major cities and also between the large numbers of t

transport secretary louise haigh in the in the region yesterday we have a commitment around northern powerhouselly clear about this. why should we be forced to choose between having an east west line or a north south line? london's never been forced to choose. it gets the elizabeth it gets gets the elizabeth line, it gets hs2 to manchester in hs2 coming to manchester in a few time . what have they few days time. what have they got to to us? you know, they got to say to us? you know, they promised to level us up when they stood for election here. are really coming north are they really coming north to say well, was a pack of lies? >> and just finally, it is to what? what are your options as if acts the northern leg if it is acts the northern leg in the autumn statement or before that legal action in well challenging all i can say is for 15 years or more kind of many people in the greater system have been working hard at the government's request to bring through these plans. >> we've devoted hours and hours and hours of time all of our development plans are linked to it. if they pull the plug, th

well we want to see hs2 and northern powerhouse rail built in full.the biggest economic impact. and i think just as you've been saying, this was a major plank of the government claims around levelling up. there has been speculation in in fact, over the last 30 years, including just the last few days around these projects. that's not the way to be delivering that kind of infrastructure . and labour would infrastructure. and labour would have a very different approach. we would make sure not only that we sped up infrastructure projects, but that we then didn't have this kind of speculation and instability because it's causing huge , huge because it's causing huge, huge issues for our country's reputation . reputation. >> so anneliese the labour party , if in government would continue to plough billions of pounds into this project that is already over massively over budget and massively over time, do you think this is the priority that people in the nonh priority that people in the north actually want ? north actually want? >> so we would be ensuring far

joining me now is henri murison, chief executive of the northern powerhouse partnership.d a sign that hs2 can continue, you will take cash wherever you can find it? i you will take cash wherever you can find it? ~' you will take cash wherever you can find it? ~ . ., ., find it? i think the challenge for this government _ find it? i think the challenge for this government is _ find it? i think the challenge for this government is their - find it? i think the challenge for. this government is their spending rules— this government is their spending rules mean— this government is their spending rules mean they _ this government is their spending rules mean they treat _ this government is their spendingj rules mean they treat day—to—day spending — rules mean they treat day—to—day spending like _ rules mean they treat day—to—day spending like spending _ rules mean they treat day—to—day spending like spending on - rules mean they treat day—to—dayl spending like spending on housing benefit, _ spending like spending on housing benefit, the — spending like spending on housing benef

you're not taking into account the benefits of hs2 linking into northern powerhouse rail complex , gentlemencrapped. >> yeah. >> yeah. >> gentlemen, this is the problem. you know what i'd be on. i'd completely agree with mike. we'd done this quicker mike. if we'd done this quicker to time to budget. but now to time and to budget. but now it's falling apart at the seams . but thank for having the . but thank you for having the debate. fantastic. debate. that was fantastic. conservative and conservative mp greg smith and mike ridgeway from the consumer packaging manufacturer alliance, director it's a lively director of it's a lively discussion and one i feel very torn on it because on the one handi torn on it because on the one hand i can't bear the thought that we've spent 19 billion, potentially we're potentially 30 billion, we're going it. going to scrap it. >> well, what's the point of that birmingham a bit that to get to birmingham a bit quicker. equally , if lord quicker. but equally, if lord barclay's. and going quicker. but equally, if lord bacost"s. and going quicker. but equally, if

in london, get a crossrail when they can't even get idea of this even get this idea of this northern powerhouse linking hull, properly linking up hull, manchester let manchester and liverpool, let alone of the alone the northern spur of the high speed rail link, which is which which is a big issue which is which is a big issue for weekend as the tory for this weekend as the tory party heads to for manchester the all these things the conference. all these things he's i think you're seeing he's i think what you're seeing here a more muscular here is a more muscular behaviour from these city mayors. i they seeing behaviour from these city may they they seeing behaviour from these city maywthey can they seeing behaviour from these city maywthey can th(on seeing behaviour from these city maywthey can th(on central1g now they can take on central government. revealed earlier government. we revealed earlier this that this week that they that burnham, mr burnham may look at suing the government if it does try access leg try to access northern leg of hs2 without consultation . so hs2 without any consulta

northern powerhouse rail put that. i think put money behind that.dea. 15 years ago, which is now having . having its own issues. >> okay, chris, we'll have to leave you've seen leave it there. you've just seen patrick view patrick christie hove into view on let's take on our screens. let's take a high link to him. patrick, on our screens. let's take a high have link to him. patrick, on our screens. let's take a high have you to him. patrick, on our screens. let's take a high have you got him. patrick, on our screens. let's take a high have you got on n. patrick, on our screens. let's take a high have you got on today's k, show? >> yeah, there you go. a little bit of viral marketing there, subliminal messaging. look, i've got i am, course, got loads on. i am, of course, going very much going to be talking very much about . mark whites about lampedusa. mark whites over there for us. i'm going to be asking not we be asking whether or not we should women and should now only take women and children of the children in light of the onslaught of mostly youn

>> well, i mean, the real scandal, i think, came a couple of years back when they cancelled northern powerhouseh much more rail, which was much more necessary . i mean, what's the necessary. i mean, what's the point hs2 ? no, it's not going point of hs2? no, it's not going to euston. it's not going to manchester. remember manchester. i remember the days when were about it when we were talking about it going edinburgh in glasgow, going to edinburgh in glasgow, you know. yes, this is it's apparently, the apparently, according to the mail, slower now to mail, going to be slower now to manchester. >> fascinating graphic in >> this fascinating graphic in the talking about how the mail talking about how because it's not coming into because now it's not coming into euston, but ending at old euston, but it's ending at old oak common, which is near acton in west london, because have in west london, because you have to acton to get on the to get to acton to get on the high speed rail. it's actually just quicker to go on a slower line from london to birmingham. so really understood so i never really under

. >> and i also don't think, sorry that the north should have to choose between the northern powerhouseee with. >> but the one thing you kind of have to remember is when look have to remember is when we look at actual statistics of who at the actual statistics of who kind use this service kind of would use this service and public transport, and who uses public transport, particularly most people don't and who uses public transport, partitilarly most people don't and who uses public transport, partit in rly most people don't and who uses public transport, partit in the most people don't and who uses public transport, partit in the wayt people don't and who uses public transport, partit in the wayt peowe don't and who uses public transport, partit in the wayt peowe do n't and who uses public transport, partit in the wayt peowe do in use it in the way that we do in london. when the way people london. when the way that people talk a very london talk about it is a very london centric the main mode of centric way. the main mode of transport greater manchester transport in greater manchester i

. >> all this nonsense about northern powerhouses levelling up. it doesn't work.s. are internationally cities. they are internationally renowned manchester renowned cities. if manchester was in any other country in europe, probably be the europe, it would probably be the caphal a europe, it would probably be the capital. a population of capital. it has a population of about it's about 1.6 million people. it's not people about 1.6 million people. it's no london people about 1.6 million people. it's no london on people about 1.6 million people. it's no london on expensive people about 1.6 million people. it's no london on expensive trainple to london on expensive train tickets. it's about creating meaningful employment in those areas stop those people areas to stop those people having move to other cities . having to move to other cities. and that's what london, i think it austin mitchell it was. austin mitchell said. back former labour back in 2009. the former labour mp for said london sucks back in 2009. the former labour mp life said london sucks back in 2009. th

. >> all this nonsense about northern powerhouses levelling up. it doesn't work. are internationally cities. they are internationally renowned manchester renowned cities. if manchester was in any other country in europe, probably be the europe, it would probably be the caphal a europe, it would probably be the capital. a population of capital. it has a population of about it's about 1.6 million people. it's not people about 1.6 million people. it's no london people about 1.6 million people. it's no london on people about 1.6 million people. it's no london on expensive people about 1.6 million people. it's no london on expensive trainple to london on expensive train tickets. it's about creating meaningful employment in those areas stop those people areas to stop those people having move to other cities . having to move to other cities. and that's what london, i think it austin mitchell it was. austin mitchell said. back former labour back in 2009. the former labour mp for said london sucks back in 2009. the former labour mp life said london sucks back in 2009. the

it was actually connecting the great northern cities. powerhouse cities. a powerhouse and giving us public transport on the on the ground and reliable broadband. >> it's worth being specific because some people will be very excited on both sides of the debate by what matthew said about scrapping hs2. that is what is not. what i what that is not. what i understand discussion to be. what that is not. what i undaboutd discussion to be. what that is not. what i undabout birmingham ion to be. what that is not. what i undabout birmingham t0| to be. it's about birmingham to manchester should have manchester that i should have said. the second half piece of only because they can't stop the rest yet. >> only why they stopped >> that's only why they stopped the they could have, the bottom. if they could have, they the bottom. if they could have, the one of the most interesting >> one of the most interesting things this is the things i think about this is the way that it's dividing people within parties. this a policy within parties. this is a policy discussion absol

i do want to have us have all the whether you call it northern powerhouse rail or whether you just gont. the point is that. west, it's irrelevant. the point is that . and i don't i is we need that. and i don't i don't know that convenient that this is being peddled just before the party conference. so we have all these big words . we have all these big words. but, you know, i haven't heard richard say he's going to pull out of it yet. so i haven't got an answer to that one. >> i'm still puzzled, actually, about if you go back to the beginning of hs2, why they started it from london to birmingham , why it didn't start birmingham, why it didn't start in the north, go down the opposite direction, because this is all about levelling up and it seems the only bit it's to going be levelled up is the bit between london and birmingham. if the manchester link is dropped , i agree with you, why dropped, i agree with you, why not do both ? not do both? >> i have a big vision person . >> i have a big vision person. let's have some vision. let's be bold and so we do need to have car drivers, especi

the route going that route they're going to do that that connect northern that connect the northern powerhouse, of hs2 that really without it really matter and without it going ahead, that can't work. really matter and without it going ahead, that can't work . so going ahead, that can't work. so it really matters up there , i it really matters up there, i think. and it's also it's more, it's symbolic, think, for it's more symbolic, i think, for the north. yeah >> well, is symbolic. >> well, well, it is symbolic. i mean, it's obvious mean, i suppose it's an obvious sign, did sign, isn't it, that you did want to the but want to connect the north. but i think a lot of northerners don't want everybody want to speak for everybody here, a lot of here, but i think a lot of northerners been northerners would have been happier with the north and the east the midlands being east and the midlands being better connected within itself . better connected within itself. >> yeah, and that's the argument i looking at i think they're looking at rephasing the rephasing it with a more the autumn up. but autumn st

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