The project has been mired in fresh uncertainty after the prime minister's spokesperson refused to guarantee yesterday that it would run to Manchester, following publication of a photographed document suggesting further cuts were under discussion.
In the run-up to the autumn statement on 22 November, Rishi Sunak and the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, have attended meetings to discuss spending, including whether commitments such as HS2 and the pensions triple lock are sustainable if stringent fiscal rules are to be met.
The photograph appeared to show Sunak and Hunt were meeting to discuss a total £34.1bn expenditure listed for the second phase of the railway from Birmingham to Manchester and the east Midlands.
This story is from the September 15, 2023 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the September 15, 2023 edition of The Guardian.
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