Rishi Sunak has announced the cancellation of the Manchester leg of the HS2 rail project and revealed a ban on young people smoking in his keynote speech at the Tory conference. The Prime Minister stated that the multi-billion pound rail venture is no longer viable and that taxpayers' money would be better invested elsewhere.
New investment in "Network North"
Sunak disclosed that the £36bn allocated for the Manchester leg will now be redirected into a new project called "Network North". This initiative will see the development and upgrading of various transportation projects in the North of England, including road, rail, bus, and train projects. The investment will be used to connect 50 stations across the North and Midlands, such as Manchester and Liverpool, and will also include upgrades to the country's highway network, including the A1.
Criticisms of HS2
Sunak argued that HS2 has become representative of the outdated consensus, with costs that have more than doubled and multiple delays. He also highlighted the weakened economic case for the project due to changes in business travel following the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the cancellation of the Manchester line, HS2 is still expected to deliver a 30-minute reduction in journey times between London, Birmingham, and Manchester.
Focus on the next generation
As part of his speech, the Prime Minister also announced a ban on young people purchasing cigarettes, stating that it will save more lives than any other decision the Conservative party could make. The ban will mean that a 14-year-old today will never have the legal ability to buy cigarettes. Sunak also expressed a desire to make it more difficult for children to access vapes.
Other key announcements
Sunak addressed the issue of striking BMA doctors, accusing them of demanding unaffordable pay rises and walking out for political reasons rather than patient care. He also promised to deliver tax cuts but did not provide a timeline, stating that inflation needs to decrease further first. The Prime Minister took the opportunity to criticize Labour and its leader, Sir Keir Starmer, accusing him of wanting to bring Britain back under Brussels' rules and highlighting his party's skepticism towards Brexit and the decentralization of power from Westminster.
The Prime Minister's wife, Akshata Murty, also made a surprise appearance at the conference and delivered a speech praising her husband's character, strength, and compassion.
