BREAKING: Parts of HS2 line to be delayed for two years Well, there is already anger from some senior local government leaders that it's a betrayal of cities like Birmingham and Manchester and calls into question the government's whole levelling up agenda. Now what has happened is that Mark Harper, the Transport Secretary, has at the very end of Commons business on Thursday, and the House is not sitting tomorrow. He has produced a written statement, a written statement, hasn't turned up in the House of Commons to deliver an oral statement and face questions from MPs. He has delivered a written statement, including this news about HS2. There has in the last couple of minutes between been an angry protest from a Labour MP, Sarah Owen, complaining about how Mr Harper did not see fit to come to the House. She said this is an outrageous attempt to avoid scrutiny, and Nigel Evan...