THE Government has agreed that HS2 will go ahead but deferred a final decision on the route of phase two from Birmingham to Manchester in the west and Leeds in the east.

Our local politicians are apparently delighted, but I have to ask why?

The truth is that HS2 is a railway line that – even if phase two is built – ends at Church Fenton near Leeds. No plans exist to extend it further north.

The money would be better spent on a new line from Leeds to Manchester with improved services to Newcastle, Liverpool and Hull from those key cities.

I am appalled that our North-East MPs haven’t twigged that they are being conned.

DW Lacey, Durham.