Rishi Sunak repeatedly dodges questions over future of HS2 rail

Rishi Sunak has repeatedly refused to say whether the HS2 rail line will run to Manchester, in a series of BBC regional interviews.

Speculation has grown as the government has not guaranteed the second leg of the line, from Birmingham to the North West, will be built.

The prime minister said ministers were making sure "we get value for money".

Responding to questions, he instead talked about improving local bus links and improving roads by fixing potholes.

The issue of whether the line to Manchester will go ahead could overshadow the Conservative party conference, beginning in the city on Sunday.

Questions over whether it will go ahead have hung over ministers for two weeks, after photographs of documents identifying possible savings for parts of the line north of Birmingham appeared in the press.

Mr Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt met earlier this month to discuss the much-delayed project, whose costs have ballooned since the first estimates were produced over a decade ago.

First has already started on the first part of the line, running from London to Birmingham.

It was originally then meant to run to Manchester and Leeds. However, the leg to Leeds was scrapped in 2021 over concerns about the cost.

Speculation has also mounted that the leg to Manchester could now be delayed, or scrapped altogether.

There have also been suggestions the government could decide that the leg to London could stop at Old Oak Common, a new terminus in the west of London, instead of Euston station, in a bid to save money.