What levels up, must level down – or so seems to be Newton’s third law of Johnsonism this week, as the government’s long-awaited rail plan looks like it’s about to betray the new northern voters who put their faith in the Conservatives to rebalance the economy.
Briefings over the weekend – heroically spun by the Sunday Times – suggested that the Integrated Rail Review (repeatedly subject to delays, fittingly) would be scrapping two projects vital to connecting the north of England: the eastern leg of HS2 between the Midlands and Leeds, and the Northern Powerhouse Rail line between Leeds and Manchester.
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