Amid continuing lobbying of Downing Street by opponents of the multimillion scheme and supporters fighting to preserve it, the Northern Research Group of Tory MPs appear willing to back a lengthy delay to the Birmingham-Manchester leg if a co-called “Charles line” connecting northern cities is preserved.The Government under Bozo and Truss promises an extensive dedicated route that would have cost £40bn on 2019 prices (I assume). This was cut back to a £17bn core route, which angered lots of these MPs.