Rachel Reeves is expected to announce plans for the high-speed rail scheme across the north of England ahead of the Budget amid growing concerns over delays to the project.

The Chancellor had been expected to unveil funding to push on with Northern Powerhouse Rail in the weeks after the spending review in June and possibly at the party’s autumn conference, but the plans have been repeatedly delayed.

It comes amid concerns within Whitehall over the costs of the scheme, which will provide a new rail link between Liverpool and Manchester, via Manchester Airport, and through to Leeds and Hull.

A report published earlier this month by the think tank Policy Exchange and backed by Reform UK warned the new £17bn line between Liverpool and Manchester would take longer than the existing rai

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