Kenilworth's MP has said HS2 will have caused "long-lasting" pain for "extraordinarily limited" local gain if plans to extend the line beyond Birmingham are not followed through.

Sir Jeremy Wright's comments came in the House of Commons on Monday (September 18) as MP's called for answers on the future of the high speed rail project.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt have remained tight-lipped on HS2's future, despite reports plans to extend the line to the North West will be scrapped.

During a heated parliamentary debate MP's said stopping the line at the new Curzon Street Station in Birmingham would create an "enormous false economy".

"It is sometimes right to ask our constituents to take local pain for national gain," Sir Jeremy said.

"But would my honourable friend agree the national gain for HS2 has always argued to be resulting from a network of high speed rail lines, not a single line.

"If it is a single line, aren't we in danger of the national gain being extraordinarily limited and the local pain - including to my constituents - being extraordinarily extensive and long-lasting."

HS2 phase 2a's opening date has already been pushed back from 2033 to between 2035 and 2041 (image via HS2)

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In response junior transport minister Richard Holden said: "There is a huge amount of work already going on with HS2 at the moment, creating tens of thousands of jobs, supporting 1,500 apprenticeships as well.

"There is a huge amount of benefit right across the country for the investment that is already going into HS2.

"But on his broader comments I will take them back and pass them on to ministers both in my own department and in the treasury."

Locally residents are facing extensive road closures caused by HS2, with Dalehouse Lane currently closed and Cromwell Lane to close - yet again - next month.

Meanwhile plans to create a huge cutting on the outskirts of Kenilworth have recently been given the green light, as have designs for the new 425-metre viaduct in Balsall Common.

Also speaking in the Commons on Monday, Tory MP for Cheadle Mary Robinson said scrapping the following phases of the project would block the government's levelling up agenda.

"In order to unlock economic growth and power up northern productivity, our region must have improved connectivity, both to our capital and through a Northern Powerhouse Rail connecting our cities across the North," she said.

"Our country will only be truly levelled up with our connected northern region reaching its full potential.

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"Uncertainty around phase 2 is unhelpful. I urge my honourable friend to consider the importance of northern infrastructure commitments to businesses across the region."