Starmer: I can't promise to reverse Sunak's HS2 cuts

The government has "completely blown up" the HS2 rail project with billions of pounds wasted, the Labour leader has said.

Sir Keir Starmer spoke of a "complete fiasco", saying land between Birmingham and Manchester earmarked for the cancelled line was already being released.

He told BBC Midlands political editor Rob Mayor that meant he could not commit to reversing the prime minister's announcement at the Tory party conference.

He said Labour would be "laser-focused" on growing the economy in all parts of the country, and boosting transport infrastructure.

Sunak scraps rest of HS2 and says A-levels will be replaced