administrations and goes ahead with this project. so is it your view then that this isn't a long—term decision for a better future? what i really think is that hsz will do a fantastic amount to connect the country up and build that northern powerhouse. we've built the line to birmingham, we should continue to manchester, and i hope the government sticks with the policy that after all it so enthusiastically advocated in the past. do you think they are failing northern voters? i think there is a great opportunity to deliver for northern voters by investing in the infrastructure of the north. i'm a huge fan of the line across the pennines, h53 or northern powerhouse rail. i was the first person to propose it, so i'm all for going ahead with that, but it's not a substitute for hsz and it's not an alternative to hsz. those projects should go ahead together. well, the bbc�*s political editor, chris mason, sat down with the prime minister. here is the full interview. prime minister, you're promising this week long—term decisions

for a brighterfuture. will you announce your decision tomorrow on hs2? i know there's a lot of speculation on this, but what i can say is i'm going to approach this the same way, i approach everything thoughtfully, carefully across the detail and making what i believe is the right decision in the long term for our country. that's what i did recently on net zero. that's how i approach all decisions because that's the change i want to bring. i think for too long politicians have just taken the easy way out, focused on the short term. i want to do things differently and i think if we can change politics, that's how we're going to change our country. and that's the type of leadership that i want to bring. you've said that government after government has taken decisions that no one seems to be happy with. what's been going wrong, in your view? well, i think net zero is a great example of this. i think a consensus had built up that we were just on this path and no one had stopped to think, hang on, what about the impact of this on ordinary people's budgets? and i thought the approach we're on wasn't right. now we can still hit all our targets, which, by the way, are world—leading. we've done more than anyone else.

we will do more than others, but we can do that in a more proportionate, pragmatic and realistic way that saves families five, ten, £15,000 not having to rip out boilers, install expensive upgrades, heat pumps, change their car prematurely. so that's why i took the decision i made for a new approach. now i think that approach is the right one for the long—term, and it wasn't easy and people criticize me for it. but i guess the question for them is they have to justify why they want to saddle households with those costs unnecessarily. i'm more thinking about the bigger picture. you've been prime minister for almost a year. you've looked under the bonnet of government, if you like, and concluded that the way things work, the way decisions are made, the way motivations are framed in terms of how politicians have been tempted to act, aren't right and don't work for the country. i'm just trying to get a sense of what you've seen and what you think is failing. look, i've been out and about talking to people a lot, and i can sense with people there's a frustration that politics is not delivering what people want it to deliver. people want change and they hear too much from politicians. talk, talk, talk, not enough action.

and politicians taking the easy, short term way out, not doing the long term thing. they have to give you another example. the nhs, the nhs has been around for 75 years. we celebrated it wonderfully this year. of course i care about the nhs. my family worked in the nhs growing up. the nhs has never had a long term workforce plan. i'm the first prime minister to do that in 75 years, making sure that right now we're going to double the number of doctors and nurses that we train so that down the line we won't have this perennial problem where they're just not enough here. and we're trying to find people to come from abroad and we've got all these shortages. that's not right. but no one has addressed that in the past because you know what? you know, it takes time for those investments to bear fruit. but i've done it because i thought that was the right long—term thing for our country. right long term thing for our children, for our nhs, which i care about, but that's an example of me doing things differently. i'm not going to get the benefit of that because it takes 14 years to train a consultant, but i think that's the right thing to do and it's

example of what i've seen, what hasn't worked in the past, and why i want to do things differently and bring change. this is your first party conference as prime minister, but everyone�*s voice here seems louder than yours. prime minister, is this what leadership looks like? it's a conservative party conference. we've got lots of people here, but actually the spirit of this conference is great. people are upbeat. i think people have got a spring in their step. they're united behind what we're doing. my approach to net zero is one which is broadly supported across notjust the party but the country. just yesterday, the chancellor announced an increase in the national living wage. that's a £1,000 pay rise for 2 million people. on sunday we have... 0vershadowed by liz truss turning up and commanding an entire room, or the conservative mayor of the west midlands saying what he was saying about hsz, why they were dominating the now. i'll make a real difference to people. pay rise for 2 million people, national living wage going up, 55 towns across our country

being backed with £1 billion of funding where we're putting local people in charge so that they can deliver on the priorities that they care about their high streets, their civic buildings, security of the places they live. no one�*s done that before. you talked about change. a lot of westminster is focused on people who live in cities and more people in our country live in towns. and i wanted to change that and make sure that people living in our fantastic towns get the support, the funding, long term funding from government that they need. that's what we announced, 55 of them. i've been talking to people. i was out the other day as well, talking to a community that's going to benefit from that in the north west. they were really excited about that. so look, that's what the mood of the conference is. those are the things that we're delivering. and when it comes to tax, look, this is a conservative party conference. of course, we want to reduce taxes for people. the best tax cut i can deliver for the country right now is to halve inflation. so first of my priorities, things are tough, it's inflation that's putting up the prices of things. that's why i'm sticking to the plan. the plan is working, the numbers are improving, and we've just got to see it through and deliver it. and it will make a big difference to everyone�*s wallets. is it true that you have told

the covid inquiry that you don't have access to all of your whatsapp messages from your time as chancellor of the exchequer? well, i can tell you, because obviously this is a legal process which is going on, is that i'm helping the covert inquiry fully and very, very expansively with everything. during my time as chancellor... you said in your written testimony that there are some messages because of a changing of phone or whatever it might be that you don't have access to. i think as people will know, this is a legal inquiry. there's a full process. i submit a lot of different evidence in documentation. i will be interviewed. all of that will be transparent and public. and of course, i'm helping with all of that, as people would expect. we want to learn the lessons from covid. but i can tell you what i was doing and people remember because that's how they got to know me. i was the chancellor who set up the furlough scheme in a matter of weeks, did something that this country had never seen because i cared deeply about people's jobs. specific question about those messages. this is really important because that's what i

was doing during covid. people didn't know who i was at that moment in time, but i was desperately worried about millions of people's jobs disappearing and the impact that would have on their lives. i stepped in and created something the likes of which no one thought was possible, no one had seen before, that saved millions of peoples ofjobs and ensured now that we know we had the fastest economic recovery through the pandemic as a result of things like furlough. i'm really proud of what i did, but of course, where we can all learn the lessons from what happened, we need to do that. and i'm helping the inquiry completely, thoroughly and expa nsively. and then later this year, when all the interviews happened, people will see that. final question. you've said you're willing to be brave even if there's a political cost. you know who that reminded me of? it reminded me of liz truss a year ago where she said she was prepared to be unpopular and look where she ended up. how unpopular are you willing to be, particularly given where you and the party are in the opinion polls already? no, i'm going to do what i believe is right for the country in the long term. that's the change that i want to bring. i think if we can change politics, do politics differently, focus on what's right popular. focus on what's right

in the long term. i think ultimately that's what the british public want to see, because that's how they'll see that change is going to be delivered. and you saw that on net zero. i set out a new course. it's going to save people five, ten, £15,000. we're going to meet our target. i got criticism for that decision. but what i'm prepared to do to win an election, i'm prepared to take wanting to be unpopular. well, look, i'm prepared to persuade people that what i'm doing is right. doing a long term workforce plan for the nhs, hiring the doctors and nurses. we need making sure we have more energy security here at home, making sure we have a more proportionate approach to net zero, setting up the furlough scheme. none of these things were easy in all cases. i did what i believe is right for the long term of our country. that's a different way to do politics. that the contrast with my opposite number, keir starmer, is not to say anything, to say nothing. i hope that no one notices flip flop on everything. don't stand for anything. i don't think that's leadership. that's what not that's not what i'm about. i'm about making big decisions that are going to make a difference to the country, explaining what i'm doing, why it's going to change people's lives for the better, because that's what people want and that's what i'm going to deliver.

thank you, prime minister. thanks very much. that was the prime minister speaking to chris mason. live now to manchester to speak to our political correspondent nick eardley. as we heard rishi sunak saying there, seeing people at the conference were upbeat, they have a spring in their step and they are united behind what he is doing. would you agree with him? i united behind what he is doing. would you agree with him? i think there always _ would you agree with him? i think there always two _ would you agree with him? i think there always two sides _ would you agree with him? i think there always two sides to - would you agree with him? i think there always two sides to the - would you agree with him? i think there always two sides to the tail. there always two sides to the tail on that actually. there are a lot of activists who seem pretty buoyant, optimistic despite the polls but then there are also those who disagree with rishi sunak, the likes of liz truss and some of her allies who have been causing a bit of trouble for the prime minister by reigniting some of the debates on things like tax. then there is the h52 decision which keeps hanging hs2 decision which keeps hanging over this conference which we are still told hasn't been made even

though people say they know the birmingham to manchester leg will be scrapped. one man who knows a lot about conservative conferences is the former conservative leader iain duncan smith. thank you for coming to speak to us. you know the difference between a good conference and bad conference, which is this? i and bad conference, which is this? i think this is a good one actually. it is short— think this is a good one actually. it is short and there is, i sense from _ it is short and there is, i sense from delegates that there is a kind of mood _ from delegates that there is a kind of mood that the coming fight to the election_ of mood that the coming fight to the election is_ of mood that the coming fight to the election is one they could win. despite — election is one they could win. despite everything on h is two, despite the fact we've had this strange cloud hanging over the conference here in manchester, the big question on whether h is too will reach this place hasn't been answered by number ten. i will reach this place hasn't been answered by number ten.- answered by number ten. i was sliuhtl answered by number ten. i was slightly surprised _ answered by number ten. i was slightly surprised this - answered by number ten. i was slightly surprised this was - answered by number ten. i was slightly surprised this was trailed before _ slightly surprised this was trailed before manchester, i would rather have seen — before manchester, i would rather have seen it after manchester and that is _ have seen it after manchester and that is why — have seen it after manchester and that is why the government will not

say anything about it at the moment but they— say anything about it at the moment but they will have to say something. if but they will have to say something. if you _ but they will have to say something. if you talk _ but they will have to say something. if you talk about the mood of the conference, the conference isn't focused — conference, the conference isn't focused on — conference, the conference isn't focused on hsz, it is focused on how we are _ focused on hsz, it is focused on how we are going — focused on hsz, it is focused on how we are going to get back into the polls— we are going to get back into the polls and — we are going to get back into the polls and make sure we make a contest — polls and make sure we make a contest of — polls and make sure we make a contest of this at the next election. the decision about the net zero 2030 _ election. the decision about the net zero 2030 target, lifting to 2035, you wiii— zero 2030 target, lifting to 2035, you will be surprised but it has enthused — you will be surprised but it has enthused him with the sense, seen there _ enthused him with the sense, seen there is— enthused him with the sense, seen there is a _ enthused him with the sense, seen there is a poor move, showing they are on— there is a poor move, showing they are on the — there is a poor move, showing they are on the public side when it comes to the _ are on the public side when it comes to the cost— are on the public side when it comes to the cost of living, it resonated and now — to the cost of living, it resonated and now they realise, well, that's our ground — and now they realise, well, that's our ground and that is why they are a little _ our ground and that is why they are a little more upbeat. we our ground and that is why they are a little more upbeat.— our ground and that is why they are a little more upbeat. we saw theresa may walking — a little more upbeat. we saw theresa may walking past- — a little more upbeat. we saw theresa may walking past. she _ a little more upbeat. we saw theresa may walking past. she is _ a little more upbeat. we saw theresa may walking past. she is off- a little more upbeat. we saw theresa may walking past. she is off to - a little more upbeat. we saw theresa may walking past. she is off to sign l may walking past. she is off to sign a book. let me ask you specifically about hs2. you are never really behind it in the first place, were you? are you glad the prime minister seems to be on the verge of axing

the manchester to birmingham leg? it's a bit of a problem because in a way we _ it's a bit of a problem because in a way we should have made this decision _ way we should have made this decision i_ way we should have made this decision. i never understood if you want _ decision. i never understood if you want to— decision. i never understood if you want to create the great cities of the north— want to create the great cities of the north as competitors to london, why you _ the north as competitors to london, why you needed to tie them to london~ — why you needed to tie them to london~ i_ why you needed to tie them to london. i would why you needed to tie them to london. iwould rather why you needed to tie them to london. i would rather have done is invested _ london. i would rather have done is invested that money in a road, rail and communications links between cities _ and communications links between cities and — and communications links between cities and make them really shine and get _ cities and make them really shine and get them that investment. if i was to— and get them that investment. if i was to make this decision and i'm clearly— was to make this decision and i'm clearly not — was to make this decision and i'm clearly not going to, if i was going to say, _ clearly not going to, if i was going to say, no, — clearly not going to, if i was going to say, no, we will not take it one because _ to say, no, we will not take it one because it's — to say, no, we will not take it one because it's expensive, i would take the n1oney— because it's expensive, i would take the money we would save and say to manchester, leeds, newcastle, liverpooi. — manchester, leeds, newcastle, liverpool, let's now put this into infrastructure between you, with you so you _ infrastructure between you, with you so you compete with london, you don't _ so you compete with london, you don't need — so you compete with london, you don't need to link with london, you can do— don't need to link with london, you can do that — don't need to link with london, you can do that normally. we want you to bring _ can do that normally. we want you to bring business into the north that doesn't _ bring business into the north that doesn't have to go to the south. you would rive doesn't have to go to the south. ym.

would give that cash to the devolved leaders to spend? you would give that cash to the devolved leaders to spend?— would give that cash to the devolved leaders to spend? you ghais now talk to us about what _ leaders to spend? you ghais now talk to us about what you _ leaders to spend? you ghais now talk to us about what you want, _ leaders to spend? you ghais now talk to us about what you want, what - leaders to spend? you ghais now talk to us about what you want, what you | to us about what you want, what you think would make a difference and make a difference, make it a positive. do you think the prime minister is right to continue to refuse to answer the question over whether he has made the decision to can hs2? we all think he has come every newspaper this morning, every mp you speak to seems pretty confident it's about to be signed off. why is he notjust about to be signed off. why is he not just telling the about to be signed off. why is he notjust telling the public? politics is about timing and he may be looking — politics is about timing and he may be looking for the right moment. maybe _ be looking for the right moment. maybe his— be looking for the right moment. maybe his speech. i suspect it will be when _ maybe his speech. i suspect it will be when he gets back to downing street _ be when he gets back to downing street. there will be criticism if he makes — street. there will be criticism if he makes a big decision like that and he _ he makes a big decision like that and he is — he makes a big decision like that and he is not in parliament because parliament— and he is not in parliament because parliament should rightly have a view on — parliament should rightly have a view on it — parliament should rightly have a view on it. so he may say, i will do this so— view on it. so he may say, i will do this so parliament can debate it? should _ this so parliament can debate it? should he — this so parliament can debate it? should he wait until parliament? if

it has been made, you had better get it has been made, you had better get it out— it has been made, you had better get it out lrut— it has been made, you had better get it out but there is an argument for pariiament— it out but there is an argument for parliament making that debate at the time of— parliament making that debate at the time of the decision.— time of the decision. watching the seeches time of the decision. watching the speeches here. — time of the decision. watching the speeches here, i _ time of the decision. watching the speeches here, i don't _ time of the decision. watching the speeches here, i don't know- time of the decision. watching the speeches here, i don't know how i time of the decision. watching the - speeches here, i don't know how much of them you have managed to catch, but we have been carrying a lot of them on bbc news. there have been a lot of attacks on the labour party but also there have been some issues which is almost like a straw man has been created to create a wedge. mark harper, the transport secretary, yesterday was talking about clamping down on a 15 minute cities and people being charged by the mull to try. i don't think anyone is proposing that. claire coutinho was talking about labour taxing meat which again is something they have not proposed. it doesn't feel like some of it has grounded totally in reality? there have been discussions about these, _ there have been discussions about these, they may not be labour official— these, they may not be labour official policy would having said that — official policy would having said that... and you have been around

long _ that... and you have been around long enough to know how politics works. _ long enough to know how politics works. the — long enough to know how politics works, the government will die if there _ works, the government will die if there is— works, the government will die if there is no— works, the government will die if there is no debate. they have to make _ there is no debate. they have to make the — there is no debate. they have to make the case for why it's necessary for them _ make the case for why it's necessary for them to— make the case for why it's necessary for them to be re—elected after a lon- for them to be re—elected after a long period. labour does not really want _ long period. labour does not really want those — long period. labour does not really want those debates because right now they are _ want those debates because right now they are ahead in the polls and want all of— they are ahead in the polls and want all of their— they are ahead in the polls and want all of their problem children to keep— all of their problem children to keep quiet, just ahead serenely to the polls— keep quiet, just ahead serenely to the polls and say we are ok. so one side needs— the polls and say we are ok. so one side needs to fight, the other side doesn't _ side needs to fight, the other side doesn't want it. the government has to bring _ doesn't want it. the government has to bring labour to that fight, debate — to bring labour to that fight, debate those issues.- to bring labour to that fight, debate those issues. they are taking the fi . ht to debate those issues. they are taking the fight to labour— debate those issues. they are taking the fight to labour on, _ debate those issues. they are taking the fight to labour on, some - debate those issues. they are taking the fight to labour on, some of - debate those issues. they are taking | the fight to labour on, some of them are not things labour want to do and they are creating false arguments. we then get labour to deny it. they have to either deny it or agree it. pretty cynical. it have to either deny it or agree it. pretty cynical-— pretty cynical. it is not cynical, it is politics. _ pretty cynical. it is not cynical, it is politics. it _ pretty cynical. it is not cynical, it is politics. it is _ pretty cynical. it is not cynical, it is politics. it is about - pretty cynical. it is not cynical, it is politics. it is about getting that debate to the public can go wait a minute that they denied this didn't deny it. he is a good example. the net zero argument, to

move to 2035 petrol diesel cars and