Rishi Sunak's conference speech began with a surprise introduction from the PM's wife Akshata Murty, and ended with a standing ovation
Rishi Sunak speech in full: Watch Prime Minister’s Tory conference address – and read key points at a glance
He explained that HS2 will still run to Euston in central London, but said that the current management would “no longer be responsible” for the site.The Prime Minister also proposed raising the smoking age by one year, every year, meaning a 14-year-old today will never legally be sold a cigarette. He said he had taken a more “pragmatic” and “proportionate” approach to reaching net zero, defending his recent changes and insisted the UK “will still get to net zero by 2050”.
Away from the Tory faithful, the Prime Minister’s address has elicited a slightly less enthusiastic response. Mick Whelan, general secretary of the train drivers’ union Aslef said: “That Rishi Sunak has chosen to announce, in Manchester, that his Government is killing off the dream of HS2, turning his back on the north, and is no longer interested in levelling up, is, almost, beyond parody.
Labour’s national campaign co-ordinator Pat McFadden accused Mr Sunak of having a “decaying effect on his party and the country” in response to the speech.
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