In a bold move, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the cancellation of the HS2 high-speed rail project during his speech at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester. Sunak stated that "the facts have changed," leading to the decision to scrap the project, which would have connected Birmingham to Manchester.
The Prime Minister argued that the project had been built on a "false consensus" that prioritized links between major cities above all else. Instead, he pledged to invest in transportation projects across the entire country. Additionally, Sunak unveiled plans for a new post-16 qualification and a phased-out approach to smoking.
This announcement marked the beginning of a new and riskier approach for Prime Minister Sunak, who has often been criticized for his political caution. It was his first speech to the party conference as the leader of the Conservative Party, a party that has held government for 13 years.
During his speech, Sunak acknowledged the public's weariness with the politics of the past three decades and positioned himself as the agent of change. While this presents significant opportunities, it also carries substantial risks, as he attempts to close the polling gap between the Tories and Labour by convincing voters of his new approach.
The HS2 cancellation dominated discussions at the conference, with senior Tories and Sunak himself emphasizing that the decision was not final. Sunak confirmed that both the northern leg (Birmingham to Manchester) and the eastern leg to East Midlands Parkway would be abandoned, while the West Midlands line would extend to Euston station, not Old Oak Common as previously rumored. Furthermore, nearly £4 billion would be redirected to transport schemes in six northern city regions.
Among the allocated funds, £3 billion will be dedicated to upgrading and electrifying railway lines connecting Manchester to Sheffield, Sheffield to Leeds, Sheffield to Hull, and Hull to Leeds. Additionally, resources will be directed towards road resurfacing projects nationwide.
Despite these plans, the decision has sparked anger among local leaders, including Andy Street, the Conservative Mayor of the West Midlands, businesses in Manchester, and former Prime Minister David Cameron. Cameron expressed disappointment, suggesting that a "once-in-a-generation opportunity was lost" and that this reversal would make it challenging to build consensus for future long-term projects.
Concerns about the rising costs of the HS2 project contributed to the cancellation. Moreover, there were speculations about Andy Street's potential resignation, though he confirmed that he would remain in his role and within the party, albeit disappointed. Labour's shadow Cabinet Office minister, Pat McFadden, stopped short of committing to reviving HS2, stating that they would need to "look at the numbers" if they won the next election and criticized Sunak's announcement as a "Tory fiasco." Labour also questioned the novelty of the transport schemes listed by the Prime Minister, arguing that most had been previously promised or planned.
In addition to the HS2 cancellation, Rishi Sunak's speech included a proposal to raise the legal age for purchasing cigarettes and tobacco in England incrementally, with MPs to be given a free vote on the matter. Former Prime Minister Liz Truss expressed opposition to the ban, but Labour indicated a willingness to support the legislation for the sake of public health.
Sunak also introduced a new qualification, the Advanced British Standard, which will combine A-levels and T-levels for school leavers, allowing them to study five subjects instead of three and extending English and Maths courses to the age of 18.
Prime Minister Sunak's speech was undoubtedly shaped by the impending general election, scheduled to be held before January 2025. How voters perceive this new approach will be crucial to his campaign, as he acknowledges the failures of his Conservative predecessors and focuses on different policy priorities, such as tackling inflation.
During the speech, Sunak drew comparisons between himself and former Tory Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, emphasizing that the Conservatives would remain steadfast in their principles. He also addressed gender issues, asserting that "a man is a man, and a woman is a woman."
Sunak's family and background featured prominently in his speech, with anecdotes about his grandfather's visit to Parliament and his wife, Akshata Murty, introducing him as her "best friend."
In conclusion, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's announcement of the HS2 cancellation and other policy proposals marks a pivotal moment in Conservative Party politics as the country looks toward the next general election.
Published: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67005544
Date Published: Friday 6 October 2023
Image courtesy of: kevin dooley
