Rishi Sunak keeps delaying the HS2 announcement

 Rishi Sunak keeps delaying the HS2 announcement

Rishi Sunak, the prime minister, has declared that he won't be "forced into a premature decision" about the future of HS2.

According to him, a "enormous amount" of money is being spent on the high-speed train line, therefore it's critical to choose wisely in the long run.

As rumors persist that the PM may cancel the line's Birmingham to Manchester leg, pressure is mounting on him to make a statement.

The PM, though, would not say if it will proceed.

On BBC Breakfast, when asked repeatedly if HS2 would extend all the way to Manchester, he responded, "I know there's lots of speculation, however every I can say is I'm not going to be pressured into a premature decision because it's nice for someone's TV program.

"What I want to do is choose wisely for the nation."

Mr. Sunak refuted claims that HS2 or former Prime Minister Liz Truss' push for tax cuts had taken center stage at his party's annual convention in Manchester in an interview with BBC political editor Chris Mason.

He emphasized that the party is "united behind what we're doing" and that the "spirit of this conference is great."

Regular updates: I won't be pressured into making a hasty choice over HS2, Sunak claims.

HS2 rumors dominate the Tory conference

Why is the Manchester link uncertain and what is HS2?

Both HS2 proponents and detractors of the Tories are angry that the matter has been allowed to overshadow the party conference, which may be the final until the upcoming general election in 2024.

There were indications on Monday that an announcement regarding the future of HS2 was coming after weeks of rumors and leaks, but Downing Street stressed no final decision had been made.

There is now a growing hope that the prime minister's conference speech on Wednesday would provide official confirmation.

To counter claims that the government is giving up on its goal of bringing the country up to par, any decision to cut back the project might be followed by a promise to invest in other transportation projects in the northern part of England.

Ministers have recently emphasized the significance of east-west connections while responding to inquiries about HS2.

For instance, Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), which connects Leeds, Manchester, and Liverpool, seeks to enhance linkages.

But because the project will connect to HS2 using a portion of the high-speed line, the cost of NPR will go up if HS2 is not extended to Manchester.

The prime minister has been lobbied not to axe the Manchester leg by several prominent Conservatives.

HS2 had a "great opportunity to deliver for northern voters," according to former chancellor George Osborne, and canceling phase two to Manchester "would be a great tragedy."

NPR, he continued, "should go ahead together" and was not a replacement for HS2.

West Midlands Tory mayor Andy Street made a dramatic intervention on Monday, saying that eliminating the Manchester leg would be like "cancelling the future" and risk harming the UK's reputation abroad "as a place to invest."

Although Mr. Street recognized that the expenses were "escalating," he claimed to be working on a new finance scheme for the project that would entail additional private funding.

Theresa May, David Cameron, and former prime minister Boris Johnson have all cautioned against reducing the high-speed line's capacity.

According to Manchester's Labour mayor Andy Burnham, the project's cancellation was "profoundly depressing" to hear it.

He questioned, "What gives them the right to treat people here in Greater Manchester from the north of England like second-class citizens?"

However, some Conservative MPs are against HS2, claiming it is a waste of money and that there are more effective methods to enhance transportation.

The line intends to shorten travel times while adding to the number of employment outside of London and the rail network. However, HS2 has experienced delays, rising prices, and budget constraints.

Sir Craig Oliver, who served as Prime Minister Cameron's communications director, told the BBC that Mr. Sunak was having difficulty communicating his message of hope.

The conference's motto is "long-term decisions for a brighter future," but according to Sir Craig, "at the moment he's arguing about not taking a decision."