Why did Rishi Sunak record video cancelling HS2 days earlier?

The transport secretary said he took the decision to cancel the Birmingham to Manchester leg of HS2 on Tuesday, before the cabinet approved it and the PM announced it 24 hours later.

Mark Harper was asked why Rishi Sunak recorded a video about the cancellation before the party conference in Manchester, where he and ministers repeatedly declined to comment on "speculation" and insisted no decision had been taken.

Mr Harper said “we did some work in advance” and the detailed document released on Wednesday was “not cobbled together”. He also said no alternative video had been prepared.

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