The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, is reportedly considering axing plans for the HS2 high-speed rail link to run from Birmingham to Manchester amid soaring costs.Critics of such a move include former prime ministers Boris Johnson and David Cameron, some business leaders and the Labour mayors of Greater Manchester and London, Andy Burnham and Sadiq Khan.But Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has suggested the scheme is "out of control" and former transport secretary Grant Shapps said the Government could not w

The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, is reportedly considering axing plans for the HS2 high-speed rail link to run from Birmingham to Manchester amid soaring costs.Critics of such a move include former prime ministers Boris Johnson and David Cameron, some business leaders and the Labour mayors of Greater Manchester and London, Andy Burnham and Sadiq Khan.But Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has suggested the scheme is "out of control" and former transport secretary Grant Shapps said the Government could not write an "open-ended cheque" if costs continue to rise.A decision on the fate of the project's Manchester leg is expected in the coming days.The PA news agency explains what HS2 is, looks at the costs involved and how plans have changed.