Chancellor Rishi Sunak has hinted that scrapping the Manchester leg of the HS2 rail line would free up funds to fix potholes. Prime Minister Boris Johnson denied betraying northerners by threatening to scale back the project and emphasized the importance of value for money and improving car travel. Sunak stated during BBC radio interviews that maintaining well-kept roads and ensuring efficient bus services were vital. Repairing pothole-riddled roads became a significant issue during the local elections earlier this year. HS2 is already billions over budget, with the north-eastern leg to Leeds axed in 2020 to control costs. Sunak declined to speculate on whether the line would reach Manchester. The future of HS2 has raised concerns, with major unions and the leader of the TUC calling for an emergency summit to address the turmoil surrounding the project. Sunak's Manchester visit for the Tory party conference this weekend further complicates matters, as train strikes have been scheduled.
