VIDEO NASTY

SUNAK 'RECORDED MESSAGE HE WAS SCRAPPING HS2 THREE DAYS BEFORE MAKING OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT'

- PAUL BRITTON

PRIME Minister Rishi Sunak recorded a video message saying he was scrapping HS2 to Manchester around three days before he formerly made the announcement, according to reports.

The PM repeatedly denied a decision had been made in the run up to the Conservative Party conference in Manchester but the emergence of the video is said to cast doubt over that.

And the Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, yesterday brushed off questions on why Mr Sunak insisted no decision had been taken despite the video recording. He said the government had been working on the plan for 'several weeks'.

The PM refused to confirm whether HS2 would go to Manchester in a speech as far back as September 20, despite Mr Harper's comments.

And even before that, the government's transport minister Richard Holden dodged questions about HS2's future in the Commons, repeatedly refusing to answer whether the northern leg of the high-speed railway line would be built.

Days before the Tory conference, Mr Sunak spoke on BBC local radio stations, but declined to comment despite being asked for a 'yes or no' answer.