I doubt many will be surprised -
James Lewis, leader of Leeds, said the decision reinforced the "old north-south divide".
Scrapping the proposed eastern leg of HS2 to Leeds would "undermine" the government's levelling-up pledge, according to Leeds City Council.
The comments come as sources have told the BBC there will be no Leeds extension to HS2.
James Lewis, leader of Leeds, said the decision reinforced the "old north-south divide".
The new Northern Powerhouse Line is also expected to be abandoned in favour of upgrades to existing lines.
The Integrated Rail Plan is expected to be published by the government on Thursday.
It is understood the government is set to argue the new plans will deliver comparable benefits more quickly and cheaply.
Mr Lewis said: "We believe that anything less than a commitment to the eastern leg of HS2 as part of an integrated network with Northern Powerhouse Rail in full would undermine any pledge to 'level up' our regions - at a time when we need it most."
In an open letter to the Prime Minister, Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin urged him to "keep his promises" on rail.
She said the government had a choice: "It can choose to unlock the potential of the North, or it can let us down once again, limiting your levelling up ambitions, before you've had a chance to finalise the levelling up White Paper."
The Northern Powerhouse Partnership, which represents northern council's and businesses, said the decision was a mistake and would undermine HS2 as a project to drive economic growth across the whole UK.
There is also significant concern about the government ditching proposals for the new Northern Powerhouse Rail line, between Leeds and Manchester.
The BBC understands the government plans to largely upgrade existing lines and the route would not go via Bradford.
Northern Powerhouse Partnership director Henri Murison said: "Bypassing Bradford with its young and diverse population is the height of short-term Treasury thinking."
He said the idea that the revised plan would unlock the north's potential was "misguided and, in economic terms, disastrous".
"Throwing money at 150-year-old tunnels towards Manchester because it will cost less, which will never have enough capacity as they and the wider route through Huddersfield is so constrained, is not Northern Powerhouse Rail," he added.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-59294034
James Lewis, leader of Leeds, said the decision reinforced the "old north-south divide".
Scrapping the proposed eastern leg of HS2 to Leeds would "undermine" the government's levelling-up pledge, according to Leeds City Council.
The comments come as sources have told the BBC there will be no Leeds extension to HS2.
James Lewis, leader of Leeds, said the decision reinforced the "old north-south divide".
The new Northern Powerhouse Line is also expected to be abandoned in favour of upgrades to existing lines.
The Integrated Rail Plan is expected to be published by the government on Thursday.
It is understood the government is set to argue the new plans will deliver comparable benefits more quickly and cheaply.
Mr Lewis said: "We believe that anything less than a commitment to the eastern leg of HS2 as part of an integrated network with Northern Powerhouse Rail in full would undermine any pledge to 'level up' our regions - at a time when we need it most."
In an open letter to the Prime Minister, Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin urged him to "keep his promises" on rail.
She said the government had a choice: "It can choose to unlock the potential of the North, or it can let us down once again, limiting your levelling up ambitions, before you've had a chance to finalise the levelling up White Paper."
The Northern Powerhouse Partnership, which represents northern council's and businesses, said the decision was a mistake and would undermine HS2 as a project to drive economic growth across the whole UK.
There is also significant concern about the government ditching proposals for the new Northern Powerhouse Rail line, between Leeds and Manchester.
The BBC understands the government plans to largely upgrade existing lines and the route would not go via Bradford.
Northern Powerhouse Partnership director Henri Murison said: "Bypassing Bradford with its young and diverse population is the height of short-term Treasury thinking."
He said the idea that the revised plan would unlock the north's potential was "misguided and, in economic terms, disastrous".
"Throwing money at 150-year-old tunnels towards Manchester because it will cost less, which will never have enough capacity as they and the wider route through Huddersfield is so constrained, is not Northern Powerhouse Rail," he added.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-59294034
