This footage was filmed and produced 27 September 2023.

Metro mayors Tracy Brabin, Sadiq Khan, Andy Burnham, Steve Rotheram and Oliver Coppard unite to urge the government to complete HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail in full ahead of the Transport for the North conference.

Burnham says that everyone in the north is in the dark about developments for HS2, says Rishi Sunak risks creating a North/South chasm and says that building a reduced HS2 service will become a permanent symbol that the government don't care about the north.

Brabin says the economic vandalism on the North must stop.

Khan talks about how damaging it would be for HS2 not to go into central London and would actually make London to Birmingham take longer than the existing system, says this is yet another indication that the 'zombie' government is in chaos and talks about the economic consequences of cancelling HS2

Rotheram says that people in Whitehall are now finding out the strength of feeling from those in the north who are left wondering whey they continually have to compromise when things get tight.