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The leaders of the main political parties have been urged to explicitly set out their policy on HS2 after reports that the Government's review of the controversial high speed rail scheme recommended it should be built in full.

A leaked early draft of the report seen by The Times stated that the high-speed railway, which would connect London to Manchester and Leeds, could boost cities in the North and Midlands more than London due to better connections on intercity routes.

It also claimed there are no "shovel-ready" alternative schemes to raise capacity on the existing railway, and "large ticket price rises" will be needed to discourage peak-time travel unless it is built.

Why the delay to HS2 could strike a double blow to rail in the North

The HS2 scheme faces an uncertain future, with the results of the government-commissioned Oakervee Review pending.

But the review, led by former HS2 Ltd chairman Douglas Oakervee, warned that the project's latest cost estimate of £88 billion is expected to increase further. HS2 was allocated £56 billion in 2015.

The review calculated that rising costs have slashed the estimated benefit to taxpayers for every £1 spent from £2.30 in 2017 to as little as £1.30 this year, The Times reported.

The leak appears to contradict media reports suggesting that the review will recommend saving £10bn on the controversial scheme connecting London to the North by cancelling phase 2b between Birmingham and Leeds.

The review was launched by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in August. It was due to be completed this autumn, but the deadline was delayed amid the General Election. Once it has been finalised, the report will be delivered to the new government.

Business and political leaders in the North have previously argued that the greatest benefits to the North will only come if Northern Powerhouse Rail, a £39bn scheme linking the major cities of the North, is delivered alongside HS2.

Asked by The Yorkshire Post if he agreed in September, Mr Johnson said: "That argument I have bought. I get that." He said the main issue was how to get value out of HS2, the controversial project which faces an uncertain future after a government review was launched into whether and how it could proceed.

Henri Murison, Director of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership said: “The Northern Powerhouse Independent Review on HS2 said that there were no identified credible alternatives to HS2 in order to deliver the same capacity, and that it has the potential to unlock greater growth in North and Midlands. It is welcome that their recommendations are mirrored by the governments own Oakervee Review.

“As we await the three major party manifestos, the case has been made for building Northern Powerhouse Rail and HS2 together all the way has never been stronger.

Party leaders urged to publicly back HS2 as leaked report suggests Leeds link won't be axed