Rishi Sunak set to confirm scrapping of Manchester leg of HS2

No 10 does not deny reports PM is planning to announce axing of multibillion-pound project at Tory conference

Rishi Sunak is set to confirm he is scrapping the northern leg of HS2 to Manchester at the Conservative conference in the city despite a furious response and Tory fears it will fatally undermine the party's commitment to levelling up.

Downing Street did not deny reports that the prime minister was planning to axe the multibillion-pound project and reallocate some of the funding to transport projects across the north.