West Midlands mayor Andy Street ‘considering quitting’ over HS2 U-turn

West Midlands mayor Andy Street is reportedly considering quitting after Rishi Sunak’s decison to cancel the HS2 northern route from Birmingham to Manchester.

According to The Guardian, the Conservative mayor Mr Street has met the Prime Minister on a number of occasions in recent weeks to discuss HS2 in the hope of changing Sunak’s mind, but it has become clear in the last 24 hours that the project is now expected to be shelved by the PM.

A source close to the region’s mayor, told the Guardian: “He is very disappointed. He wants to see what today brings but it is certainly possible that he will resign immediately after the prime minister’s speech.”

A spokesman for the mayor told the newspaper they will ‘respond accordingly’ to Sunak’s speech.

Speculation has been rife that Sunak would finally wield the axe over the HS2 route from Birmingham to Manchester as costs spiral, leaving a line from London to Birmingham only.

Mr Sunak’s set-piece speech at the Manchester conference – where the party slogan is “Long term decisions for a brighter future” – is scheduled for Wednesday.