smeghead

Not entirely accurate. There's a lot of support for HS2 in the North as it would greatly improve the infrastructure - but it's increasingly obvious that HS2 will only be built out as far as is politically beneficial for the government so the project will deliver high speed rail in the south then be abandoned due to massive costs.

South England will reap the benefits (again) paid for by the tax money of all.

The latter. The buildings on the right are constructed under a shelf of rock - on the left, they've built up to meet that shelf.