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Scrapping the northern leg of HS2 would free up cash to fix pot holes and boost local bus services, Rishi Sunak has suggested.<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister insisted \u201cvalue for money\u201d is his main priority as he again refused to commit to completing the mega rail project in full.<\/p>\n
Mr Sunak was repeatedly challenged over speculation he will downgrade the high speed rail scheme, delaying or axing the Birmingham to Manchester leg, in a gruelling round of regional interviews.<\/p>\n
The PM also denied betraying the north of England, arguing more people use cars than trains.<\/p>\n
He told BBC Radio York: \u201cI think what people will see, I mean particularly around where we are – my home is in Northallerton – we\u2019re investing record amounts in improving infrastructure but also delivering levelling up.<\/p>\n
READ MORE <\/strong> ‘Ridiculous white elephant!’ North east Tory Mayor slams HS2 over huge cost<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI mean making sure that our town centres and high streets get the investment that they need.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I speak to people when I\u2019m at home or anywhere else around, what everyone tells me is that you\u2019ve got to make it easier to get around all our northern towns and cities, whether it\u2019s Hull, York, Leeds, Sheffield, all the way over to Liverpool. Connecting all those cities up is really important and we\u2019re doing that.<\/p>\n \u201cBut also investing in the local transport that people use every day, making sure that our potholes are filled, making sure that our bus services are running \u2013 particularly important in rural areas like mine.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Sunak\u2019s remarks come as rail chiefs this week warned the taxpayer bill for HS2 could hit an eye-watering \u00a3180 billion.<\/p>\n The PM told BBC Radio Manchester that the government \u201cis always making sure that we get value for money out of everything we do\u201d. Mr Sunak also insisted that he is delivering \u201cphase one\u201d of HS2.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are spades in the ground right now at the moment making sure that we complete the first part of this line from Birmingham to Central London, and we are absolutely getting on with that, that is important,\u201d he told BBC Radio West Midlands.<\/p>\n Potential plans to scale back or delay the project won\u2019t be announced until November\u2019s Autumn Statement after a major backlash.<\/p>\n However, the issue is set to dominate the Tory Party conference, which kicks off in Manchester this Sunday. The PM said he will travel by car to the city as rail strikes hit the country.<\/p>\n Mr Sunak also warned that doctors\u2019 strikes have held back progress on his pledge to reduce NHS waiting times. It comes after the number of appointments and procedures cancelled due to industrial action in the health service passed the one million milestone.<\/p>\n The latest figures released by NHS England this week followed four days of walkouts, including the first co-ordinated walkout by consultants and junior colleagues in history.<\/p>\n We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> He told BBC Radio Cornwall: \u201cI know people are frustrated. I\u2019m frustrated because, having put this record funding in and worked really hard on it, it is frustrating that the strikes are holding back progress.\u201d<\/p>\n He said: \u201cA million appointments have now been cancelled or rescheduled because of the industrial action. People can get a sense of how much impact that is having.\u201d<\/p>\n Challenged over his overhaul of government green policies Mr Sunak vowed that he is \u201cdetermined to change the direction of our country\u201d.<\/p>\n Mr Sunak brushed off questions about the Tory Party\u2019s defeat in the local elections, telling BBC Berkshire: \u201cMid-term, whether it\u2019s by-elections, local elections, always tricky for incumbent governments. I get that and I get people are frustrated about what\u2019s been happening over the past couple of years.\u201d<\/p>\n He said he is \u201cdetermined to deliver for them\u201d and repeated his five priorities.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re making progress on all, by no means are we there yet and I\u2019m not complacent. But also the other week I took quite a big decision because I\u2019m determined to change the direction of our country. And that means no longer politicians taking the easy way out, but making the right long-term decisions for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n Rishi Sunak often alludes to his love of cricket. So the Prime Minister will be all too familiar with \u201cBodyline\u201d – menacing tactics used by fast bowlers to intimidate batsmen in the hope of getting them out. Or knocking their head off with a hard ball!<\/p>\n Mr Sunak endured his own version of political bodyline yesterday in a gruelling marathon session of 34 regional interviews.<\/p>\n In what has become a pre-party conference ritual, the Prime Minister faced a media grilling from every corner of the country.<\/p>\n One of the first questions\u2026. \u201dare you betraying northerners?\u201d….over suggestions that the PM is going to axe the Birmingham to Manchester leg of HS2 set the tone for the Thursday thumping.<\/p>\n Hostile questions were thrown at him from every angle – on transport, the NHS, the school concrete crisis, strikes and much, much more.<\/p>\n On some issues the PM had to duck and dive, not committing to give a clear answer on his plans for HS2.<\/p>\n But he was happy to go on the front foot over strikes, blaming them for holding back progress on his pledge to slash NHS waiting times.<\/p>\n And his robust responses to the banning of XL Bully dogs shows the public he can be decisive. It was hardly soothe the nation stuff but overall Mr Sunak appeared to get through the day relatively unscathed.<\/p>\n But it was a far cry from the mauling Liz Truss suffered 12 months ago that contributed to her downfall.<\/p>\n Any forlorn hopes the Prime Minister had of getting an early night to recover had to be sidelined in favour of attending a lavish black-tie dinner with Westminster\u2019s finest Political Correspondents.<\/p>\n He does, however, have two more sleeps before the Tory faithful gather in Manchester for the party\u2019s annual conference.<\/p>\n Last year\u2019s extravaganza saw Ms Truss\u2019s government implode. After yesterday, Mr Sunak looks assured that history won\u2019t be repeating itself.<\/p>\n Source: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/4984181.jpg?r=1695931986304\")
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Rishi Sunak faced bad-tempered grilling over HS2 and levelling up on local radio[LATEST] <\/strong>
Sunak is considering ‘alternative options’ for HS2 to stop cash being wasted[DISCOVER] <\/strong>
HS2 is just one crucial project assassinated by anti-growth forces[COMMENT] <\/strong><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/4984179.jpg?r=1695931986353\")
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