Priti Patel and Nigel Farage dance at Tory Party conference
Rishi Sunak is expected to finally confirm he will scrap the HS2 rail link to Manchester as the prime minister gives his first party conference speech as Tory leader on Wednesday.
Weeks afterThe Independent revealed he wanted to axe the northern leg of the line, Mr Sunak is set to confirm it as part of a speech in which he will also attack the last 30 years of “broken politics”.
He will argue he is the political leader to take the tough decisions necessary for the good of the country, while also accusing Labour of wanting “power for the sake of power” and being “everything that is wrong with our politics”.
But it is HS2 which is bound to steal the headlines.
The row over the high-speed line has overshadowed much of the conference after Mr Sunak repeatedly refused to clarify its future. He is expected to announce the northern leg will be ditched – but commit to building HS2 to Euston, rather than allowing it to terminate in the west London area of Old Oak Common.
It comes after his ministers vowed to ship prisoners overseas and warned voters over a ‘migrant hurricane’.
ICYMI: Suella Braverman claims ‘hurricane’ of migrants on way as she vows to close asylum hotels
Home secretary Suella Braverman has warned that Britain faces a “hurricane” of migrants as she dialled up her anti-immigration rhetoric in a bid to appeal to the Tory faithful.
The cabinet minister made a fiery speech at the Conservative conference in Manchester, as she vowed to shut hotels used by asylum seekers and claimed Labour would “open the borders”.
Adam Forrest reports:
Braverman introduced as ‘darling of conference’ at fringe event
Suella Braverman has been introduced as the “darling of the conference” at a fringe event in Manchester.
“She is utterly thrilled at chants of ‘Braverman’ from some of the crowd” at the Blue Collar Conservatism reception, the Guardian’s Aubrey Allegretti reports.
Earlier the home secretary delivered a highly inflammatory speech at the conference, comparing migrants to a “hurricane”.
Manchester Airport Group says it would be ‘wrong’ for Sunak to ditch HS2
The north of England needs better connectivity to “drive its economy forward,” Manchester Airport Group (MAG) has said as it urged Rishi Sunak not to scrap the high speed northern leg of HS2.
Ken O’Toole, MAG CEO, said it would be “wrong” for the PM to ditch the plans after more than a “decade” of the government telling the country that “rebalancing the economy is one of its top priorities.
“It sold the country its vision for a new industrial revolution in the north, with high-value industries competing on the global stage and creating jobs and prosperity for everyone who lives and works there.
“We call on government to work with business and political leaders to ensure that vision is delivered.
“If that connected transport network is not delivered, then more than a decade of laying the foundations for the North’s future will have been wasted, and people and businesses of the region would understandably feel let down and misled.”
File photo: A HS2 bridge in Staffordshire
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File photo: A HS2 bridge in Staffordshire
Burnham: ‘Disgrace’ that high speed northern leg of HS2 will be scrapped
Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has said it is a “disgrace” that the government will scrap the high speed northern leg of HS2.
Sky News reported this evening that the line would still go ahead between London Euston and Manchester but switch to “normal tracks” after Birmingham.
Responding to the news on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Burnham said: “So, in other words, HS2 won’t go to Manchester and people in the North will be treated as second-class citizens – again? What a disgrace.”
Tories in battle for ‘heart of party’ – former advisor
The Tories are embroiled in a battle for the “heart of the party”, a former government advisor has said.
James Starkie, a former Home Office advisor, was speaking after Suella Braverman’s speech at the Tory conference in Manchester.
“It’s a lot about where does the party go?” he said of the Conservative gathering, in an appearance on Sky News.
Watch more of his comments below:
ICYMI: Sunak poised to make ‘incredible gaffe’ by axing HS2 in north but saving London link
Rishi Sunak has been warned he is about to make an “incredible political gaffe” by scrapping HS2’s northern leg but save the link into London Euston.
The PM is expected to finally announce that the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the high-speed rail project will be ditched on Wednesday – weeks after The Independent revealed he wanted to axe it.
Adam Forrest and Jon Stone report:
Braverman: Let ‘silly’ Tory heckler back into conference
Suella Braverman has said the London Tory who heckled her speech was “silly” but should be “forgiven” and let back into conference.
Andrew Boff, the leader of the Conservatives on the London Assembly, accused Braverman of “trash” talking during a speech in which she spoke and trans rights.
“Around an hour after the incident she posted on social media: ”Andrew Boff’s heckles were silly but I think he should be forgiven and let back into conference”.
ICYMI: Nigel Farage reacts after Rishi Sunak leaves door open for his return to Tory party
Nigel Farage has rejected suggestions he could rejoin the Conservative Party.
Rishi Sunak left the door open to a possible return after describing the Tories as a “very broad church” when asked about Mr Farage’s membership prospects.
Mr Sunak added to GB News: “I welcome lots of people who want to subscribe to our ideals, to our values.”
Richard Wheeler reports:
Trans women to be banned from female NHS wards, as Steve Barclay insists ‘Tories know what a woman is’
Transgender women are to be banned from female NHS wards, as health secretary Steve Barclay insisted that the Tories “know what a woman is”.
Archie Mitchell reports:
