Reform UK reveal the the big government project they want to scrap | The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentIndependentNext articleIndependent Bulletin homepageSocial PartnerWe are 8 logo (opens in a new tab)AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleNeil LancefieldMonday 08 September 2025 23:00 BSTRichard Tice unable to say why Keir Starmer is like Kim Jong Un after Farage compares UK to North KoreaReform Party's deputy leader, Richard Tice, stated that a Reform government would scrap new high-speed rail schemes for Northern England, including Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR).Tice advised companies against bidding for NPR contracts, asserting that the money would instead be spent on other national priorities.A report from the centre-right think tank Policy Exchange, referenced by Tice, predicted NPR would be an "even greater train crash" than HS2, with a new Liverpool-Manchester line potentially costing £30 billion.The Policy Exchange report proposed an alternative "Elizabeth line for the North," involving a tunnel under Manchester city centre to link conventional rail lines.The Department for Transport affirmed its commitment to improving Northern transport infrastructure, while Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham criticised Reform's stance as advocating a "second-class railway" for the region.In fullReform say they will axe Northern Powerhouse Rail if they get into powerThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in