Which is pretty spice y. By all accounts. Good evening. In his first speech to the Party Conference as tory leader, rishi sunak said he is only too happy divide opinion and seemingly his own party if thats what it takes to put britain on a long term path to success. But his first big change is to scrap the northern leg of h52, the High Speed Railway that was supposed to link london with manchester a decision his predecessor David Cameron said the country would come to regret for years to come. Perhaps after promising the north a programme for levelling up, it is a gamble the conservatives may come to regret much sooner. Mr suank has also promised a new qualification for further education. That Willl A Levels and the more vocational t levels will be combined that will combine a levels and the more vocational t levels into one single qualification, which in future will be known as the advanced british standard. And to enhance the future, health, of the nation, he is proposing a progressi
Have all had to deal with unprecedented challenges. And i will be straight with you. We have mountains to overcome still. But today we have made three huge decisions to change the direction of our country. We will give britain the infrastructure it needs, protect the infrastructure it needs, protect the long term future of our nhs and cut cancer deaths by a quarter and create the best Education System in the Western World to set up our children for the opportunities of the future. If we commit, if we come together, we can achieve truly great things. We can build a country where work is truly valued, where welfare is a safety net are not a way of life, where Small Businesses drive our economy, where innovation makes life better, where our nhs is properly funded and properly reformed, where our children are the best educated in the Western World, whether that is at university, or yes, through an apprenticeship. Where the scourge of Anti Social Behaviour is treated as the crime it is not
With the north of england and the East Midlands. But costs spiralled and it was scaled back. The eastern leg of h52 was cancelled two years ago. Now birmingham to manchester has also been scrapped, as well as the line to East Midlands parkway. Well be getting reaction from all along the network tonight. Our transport correspondent katy austin is in birmingham, our north of england correspondent danny savage is in leeds, but first lets go to our Political Editor chris mason in manchester. Sophie, for at least three weeks the plug has been poised to be pulled on a big chunk of hs2. Today, it was yanked out. The Prime Minister acknowledged it was a controversial decision, but he insisted it was the right call, even though there are plenty, including in his own party, who think it is a huge mistake. And all of this on a day of big announcements from rishi sunak. Manchester this lunchtime, and the Prime Ministers warm up. Rishi and i are each other s best friends, and i couldnt being anywhe
Row over the future of high speed rail dominating the gathering in manchester so far, this lunchtime, the Prime Ministers moment to try to inspire. Introduced on stage by his wife, he said his mission was to fundamentally change the country. Weve had 30 years of political system. 30 years of rhetorical ambition which achieves a little more than a short term headline. And why . Because our political system is to focus on short term advantage not long success. Politicians spent a long success. Politicians spent a long time campaigning for change than actually delivering it. It doesnt have to be this way. Than actually delivering it. It doesnt have to be this way. And finall , doesnt have to be this way. And finally. An doesnt have to be this way. And finally, an end doesnt have to be this way. And finally, an end to doesnt have to be this way. And finally, an end to the spec elation over the new high speed rail link between manchester and birmingham. Hsz between manchester and birmingham
But an opportunity at this conservative Party Conference for the Prime Minister to present himself as an agent of change. As was widely trailed, he announced he will be scrapping the northern leg of h52, every penny of the savings, he said, would be invested instead in transport projects across Northern England and the midlands. Hes promised fundamental reform to the way britain is run and to how the rest of us live. One eye catching announcement, was a new and progressive age related ban on smoking. There will be a new qualification the advance British Standard which will combine a levels and t levels into one single qualification for school leavers. With the reaction from Manchester Our Political Editor chris mason. Manchester this lunchtime, and the Prime Ministers warm up act his wife. Rishi and i are each others best friends, and i couldnt imagine being anywhere else to show my support to him. Rishi sunak began by thanking her, his daughters, his parents as he drew a link between