CONSERVATIVE mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street has denied that he threatened to resign over cuts to the northern leg of the HS2 rail link.
His comments follow news that the estimated cost of the revised project has risen from £45 billion to £67 billion.
Street told GB News: “Let's be very clear about this. People suggested I should resign, I never threatened.
“The Prime Minister wasn't happy, I wasn't happy and, no beating about the bush, I did consider it. Why didn't I resign? Because there are many other issues to fight for. The party is bigger than one simple thing…
“The Prime Minister said in that speech I will welcome proposals from Andy Street for improved connectivity between Birmingham and Manchester, and the good news is I’m working with Andy Burnham.”
In a discussion with Camilla Tominey, he continued: “We have now commissioned the private sector to come up with those proposals and the Government is really very welcoming of that work at the moment...
“Let's be clear, it is overspent. The execution of HS2 has not been good.
“I am not here to defend HS2 Limited and the fact they are significantly over budget. But the principle of a new connectivity between London, Birmingham, and the North - that has to be held on to.”
He also criticised financial mismanagement over equal pay which has led to bankruptcy at Birmingham City Council.
Street said: “The depressing thing about Birmingham - you could use the word the scandalous thing, actually - is that there was an equal pay claim before that was settled in 2014, effectively settled by the then leader of the council, swiftly, and then a new claim has come since 2017.
“It's utterly depressing that the same thing has happened twice and citizens in Birmingham are left paying the bill.”
