former chairman of HS2 Ltd, the government-owned business building the high speed rail line.

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, a firm supporter of the proposed rail network, will be a member of the review panel. He said he would make the case for going ahead with HS2, and was confident he could win the argument.

Other members of the review panel include John Cridland, a former Director General of the CBI who is now chair of Transport for the North, the transport authority led by northern council leaders and mayors.

Birmingham MP Liam Byrne (Lab Hodge Hill) said HS2 must go ahead. He said on Twitter: "Cancelling HS2 will plunge us back into recession just as the Brexit asteroid hits us. So this review needs to be shorter, sharper - andgive us the green light to speed up!"

Opponents of HS2 sometimes argue that the project should be scrapped and the money spent on transport services in the North of England instead.

HS2 will eventually run between London, Birmingham, Crewe, Manchester, the east Midlands and Leeds. Two West Midlands stations are planned, one near Curzon Street, central Birmingham, and one near Birmingham Airport.