the low to mid-205 for weekend. the low to mid—205 for many. it is not weekend. the low to mid—20s for many. it is not record—breaking heat, but it certainly will feel one. but perhaps cool and rather wet across scotland. and that's bbc news at ten — there's more analysis of the day's main stories on newsnight with victoria, which is just getting under way on bbc two. the news continues here on bbc one, as now it's time to join our colleagues across the nations and regions for the news where you are, but from the ten team it's goodnight.

the prime minister will announce tomorrow that the h52 line between birmingham and manchester will be scrapped. he's also set to lay out plans for billions of pounds of funding to improve east—west rail, and local services. the labour mayor of manchester andy

burnham says he tried to reach a compromise with levelling up secretary michael gove in a last—ditch meeting this afternoon. mr burnham willjoin us live. also tonight. the home secretary made her pitch to the right wing of the party, with warnings of a �*hurricane' of migration. the wind of change that carried my own parents across the globe in the 20th century was a mere gust compared to the hurricane that is coming. how did her language go down with colleagues? would you call it a hurricane? i would say it's a big problem. my language is different to her language. just like every politician is an individual. what do you think of her language? i think that she is trying to emphasise how important it is that we tackle something that the british public are deeply concerned about. and, while the pm is laying out his stall tomorrow, those who might seek to replace him

should the opportunity arrise have had their chance. joe's on the case. who would catch your eye in terms of future leaders? penny mordaunt. tam future leaders? penny mordaunt. tom tu~endhat. future leaders? penny mordaunt. tom tugendhat. what do you like about them? i tugendhat. what do you like about them? ~ . tugendhat. what do you like about them? ~' ., , ., ., ., them? i think we need a strong woman and penny mordaunt _ them? i think we need a strong woman and penny mordaunt is _ them? i think we need a strong woman and penny mordaunt is excellent. - and our panel of politicos will chew over the ups and downs of conference. good evening from manchester. rishi sunak will announce tomorrow in his first tory conference speech as prime minister, that he is scrapping the high speed train line from birmingham to manchester. nick's here. what do you know? and the last few days we been dancing around this one but this afternoon i found myself in the company of someone who absolutely knows what is going on and that allows us to report tonight that in

his conference speech tomorrow the prime minister will announce that he is scrapping the second phase of h52, the birmingham to manchester hsz, the birmingham to manchester line. as i understand that the prime minister will take money earmarked for that line, potentially around £36 billion, and he will redirect that to three big things, improving local bus services, improving roads and a big nod to wards the east line in the north of england that would go from leeds to liverpool. they have been a flurry of meetings this afternoon, the prime minister met the conservative mayor of the west midlands who was very keen on this line and he is said to be deeply unhappy. and the levelling up secretary michael gove met andy burnham if course is the labour mayor of greater manchester. not to steal his thunder but he did outline his plan which is to preserve the

h52 second leg but build from north hs2 second leg but build from north to south and you press ahead with that east—west line. so what is the context to this? well we will have a raft of substantive policy announcement tomorrow in many areas, one source said to me i've never seen a prime minister make this many enhancements on the scale at any party political conference. rishi sunak believes he has alighted upon the defining themes that will take up the defining themes that will take up to the general election, in the first place that is an assault on all leaders of all parties dating back over the last 30 years and he says that they had presided over a political system which incentivises the easy decisions and not the right ones and he will and that status quo. just over 30 years ago of course the labour, the leader was margaret thatcher and he does not include her. and on the prime

minister will say he's prepared to take difficult decisions and difficult decisions that will upset people because his mission as he saysis people because his mission as he says is to fundamentally change our country and hs2 absolutely fits into that pattern. he said costs had been allowed to run out of control and the money would be better spent helping people in their everyday lives with buses and cars. thank you very much. and we will talk to andy burnham life. but first. despite the backwards and forwards about hs2, rishi sunak has been out on the airwaves today telling anyone who'll listen that this conservative party conference — likely the last before the next general election — has been a roaring success. certainly those gathered here have witnessed pockets of contentment and optimism about the prospects for the party, and signs some of the prime minister's recent messaging on issues like net zero and car ownership are landing with the membership. but despite the prime minister's protestations to the contrary, this has also been a conference characterised by discord, uncertainty and by moments many have interpreted as the first skirmishes

in the leadership election expected to follow if there is a conservative defeat at the ballot box. none more so perhaps than the emphatic speech this afternoon from home secretary suella braverman in which she warned of a �*hurricane' of migration and questioned the human rights act. tomorrow all eyes will be on rishi sunak himself as he addresses the party. with many believing his would—be successors are already on maneouvures, the prime minister finds himself under pressure to articulate his vision for britain — and to explain how he intends to unite his fractious party behind him. nick has been out and about. applause. a politician who knows how to make a mark. a politician granted a pretty free rein by downing street. suella braverman, a home secretary determined to confront her labour critics. i know they've tried to make me into a hate figure. because i tell the truth. the blunt, unvarnished truth about

what is happening in our country. and then language rarely heard from other cabinet ministers. the wind of change that carried my own parents across the globe in the 20th century was a mere gust compared to the hurricane that is coming. highly controversial ideas are presented to the workforce and the public as if they are motherhood and apple pie. gender ideology, white privilege, anti—british history. and the evidence demonstrates that if you don't challenge this poison, thingsjust got worse. one of those comments prompted a heckle, saying there is no such thing as gender ideology. homophobic rant, she should be ashamed of herself. she's not a tory. andrew boff, the conservative chair of the london assembly, who is a veteran campaigner

for equalities, was removed. that prompted criticism from a former cabinet minister. i have been coming to conference for 35 years or more and a bit of heckling and a little bit of dispute is part of the warp and weft of a party conference. i'm disappointed that the security team took this to an extreme, i think. it is a heavy—handed approach to a senior conservative who is entitled to his opinion. suella braverman was not responsible for the actions of the security guards and the police officers who escorted andrew boff out of the conference hall. and later the home secretary said he should be let back in. but she was responsible for the speech, and downing street was responsible for clearing it. so what is going on? well, suella braverman is one of those few cabinet ministers who is given a licence to speak her mind. that helps downing street because it means the conservatives reach voters

that downing street want to reach. 0ne senior tory told me, you will never hear the prime minister use that sort of language. an ally of the home secretary hailed the speech. i thought it was a tour de force. because what it did was set out the context of why it is so important that we win the next election. there is a huge battle going on for the soul of britain. on one side you have the liberal elite with all their predilections and preoccupations and then you have the voice of the people and suella braverman has emerged as the champion of the people. but sir robert buckland was unimpressed. well look, i haven't heard the full speech and i don't like to pass judgment without knowing the full content. but i will say this, i think it is incumbent on all of us to use language that is responsible, measured, and is up to the level of events. that is what i expect from senior politicians.

and that is what i want to see this week. and talking about a potential hurricane of migrants, does that meet your test on language? no. tomorrow it's the prime minister's day. and what precisely is the rishi sunak vision? i'm not going to steal his thunder from his big speech tomorrow. but you will be, you know, you will be impressed, i have no doubt. tomorrow will be a turning point in our destiny because lots of people have written us offjust a few months back. we were 20 odd points behind in the polls. that has closed. there's a lot of criticism around net zero. there is no criticism, what a load of nonsense that is. criticism from who, the media? from the liberal elite? from the green lobby? i say go to ashfield, knock on some doors, there is no criticism there at all. a star turn in demand, the prime minister's wife giving wife giving her blessing

to the conference. let's talk note to the labour mayor of greater manchester andy burnham. so the hs2 line from birmingham to manchester is being scrapped. what is your reaction?— is your reaction? anyone who lives in the north _ is your reaction? anyone who lives in the north of— is your reaction? anyone who lives in the north of england _ is your reaction? anyone who lives in the north of england knows - is your reaction? anyone who lives in the north of england knows the | in the north of england knows the thing we most need is a new line across the north. as a result of this decision is how it is to be announced tomorrow any one of my age and older will never see that new line in a lifetime. you cannot create that new line if you pull the heart out of hs2 which is the infrastructure in greater manchester and that is why this is devastating for our city region and for the north of england because we desperately need modern infrastructure across the north because people put up with daily chaos on the railways and sadly that is now set to continue. hat

is now set to continue. not necessarily, _ is now set to continue. not necessarily, were - is now set to continue. not necessarily, were told - is now set to continue. not necessarily, were told rishi sunak will say 36 billion, £37 billion which will be saved from not doing that high—speed line will be reinvested in regional transport links across the north and the midlands. i links across the north and the midlands. ., ., ~' links across the north and the midlands. ., ., midlands. i will look at the detail but honestly _ midlands. i will look at the detail but honestly i — midlands. i will look at the detail but honestly i do _ midlands. i will look at the detail but honestly i do not _ midlands. i will look at the detail but honestly i do not believe - midlands. i will look at the detaili but honestly i do not believe that will deliver what the north needs. the north needs a new line. i think they will spin it that they are building a new line but i do not see how they can do that as well as the other thing is that they promise. sometimes in politics it is notjust what you do with the way you do it so announcing this decision in manchester i think itjust shows contempt for the place, the prime ministerfound time for contempt for the place, the prime minister found time for lots of things today but not to speak to the leader of manchester city council are not to speak to me and that is no way to treat the city of manchester when you're there hosting a conference. we are completely shut

out of this decision and having to go from media reports of what is to be announced. no way to treat the good people of greater manchester and the wider north. you good people of greater manchester and the wider north.— and the wider north. you had this last-ditch meeting _ and the wider north. you had this last-ditch meeting with _ and the wider north. you had this last-ditch meeting with michael. and the wider north. you had this - last-ditch meeting with michael gove last—ditch meeting with michael gove this afternoon. what did you say to him and what did he say to you? i was grateful for that opportunity at least and i said there potentially are some common ground here, if you build the core of hs2 in greater manchester that is the infrastructure that bills that liverpool to leeds line across the north. i suppose tonight i have to hold up the hope that that message was heard and that's what will be announced but i do not see how they can do that with all the other thing is that they are promising. that's why i am sceptical tonight as to what is being announced. why would they not meet us and have a conversation? for50 they not meet us and have a conversation? for 50 years we've taken a cross—party approach to this, this is long term infrastructure out living in a government and for them to be in a

hotel room in manchester deciding the future of the north today without even consulting us does not feel at all the right way to do things. in effect what they are deciding is that the north of england will have a smaller economy for the rest of the century as a result of this decision, what they say is it is ok for people to get hsz say is it is ok for people to get hs2 from london to birmingham and an eagle onto the existing rail infrastructure which is already overcapacity. what message will not send to people in our part of the world? the one they have got used to all their lives that they are second class citizens when it comes to transport in the eyes of the whitehall and westminster system and this conservative government. michael gove is the levelling up secretary. did you get the impression that he agrees with the scrapping of it? what did he say to you? scrapping of it? what did he say to ou? �* ., ., ., ., ., you? i'm not going to go into the details. you? i'm not going to go into the details- he _

you? i'm not going to go into the details. he did — you? i'm not going to go into the details. he did the _ you? i'm not going to go into the details. he did the courtesy - you? i'm not going to go into the details. he did the courtesy of i details. he did the courtesy of hearing my alternative solution, and i was grateful for that much. i asked the prime minister a week ago whether he would do us the courtesy of a meeting, and the fact that he couldn't find time for that while he was in our city, i don't personally find that acceptable, given the enormity of this decision for our part of the world. it has echoes of that debate. theyjust think part of the world. it has echoes of that debate. they just think that they can treat us differently, and they can treat us differently, and they just they can treat us differently, and theyjust think we they can treat us differently, and they just think we don't they can treat us differently, and theyjust think we don't deserve that hearing, they have spent billions of pounds on this railway line in the southern part of the country, tumbling it underfields line in the southern part of the country, tumbling it under fields to please mps, but they can't bring it further north or give a meeting to northern leaders to hear how we feel about it. i think this decision will leave the north of england with victorian rail infrastructure while the southern half of the country has new lines, and that is only going to widen the north—south divide. the exact opposite of what they said at the last election. this line, hs2,

and the northern powerhouse rail line, has been in not one, not two but three conservative manifestos. what does it say to the north of england, people here, that they feel they can rip all of that up on our faces and take us for mugs? that is what they think they can do, but they have got another think coming. why, what are you going to do? we will why, what are you going to do? - will look at all options, of course we will. and we will be talking about... ~ . we will. and we will be talking about. . ._ we - we will. and we will be talking about. . ._ we just . we will. and we will be talking - about. . ._ we just cannot about... like what? we 'ust cannot acce -t about... like what? we 'ust cannot accept that — about... like what? we 'ust cannot accept that the t about... like what? we 'ust cannot accept that the plug _ about. .. like what? we 'ust cannot accept that the plug can]— about... like what? we just cannot accept that the plug can be - about... like what? we just cannot accept that the plug can be pulled. accept that the plug can be pulled on us in this way, and that we will always have this second—class infrastructure for the rest of this century. we have got to look at all options, because so much money has already gone into the development of these plans, businesses are invested in these plans. pulling the plug on us and doing it in manchester, as i say, sometimes it is not what you do, it is the way that you do it, and people will always remember a government holed up in hotel rooms

in manchester plotting its decision without talking to local leaders. in my view, some of the things they have announced this week, going cold on zero, the plans for drivers, these are not long—term decisions. this is a long—term decision on hs2? i don't think so. what we have heard this week in manchester as a desperate last acts of a dying government. desperate last acts of a dying government-— desperate last acts of a dying government. desperate last acts of a dying tovernment. , , ., ., government. 0k, well, yes or no, because we _ government. 0k, well, yes or no, because we are — government. 0k, well, yes or no, because we are really _ government. 0k, well, yes or no, because we are really out - government. 0k, well, yes or no, because we are really out of - government. 0k, well, yes or no, | because we are really out of time, mr byrne. have you had indications from labour that they will step up and say, yes, we would find hs2 from birmingham to manchester? yes or no? we are in conversations with our own party. we are waiting to hear the detailed tomorrow. i don't know, they may surprise me. maybe they will build that infrastructure that enables the east—west line, but i doubt it on what i know tonight, and i'm really hopeful that the labour party now will step in and give the north of england what we have been repeatedly promised.— north of england what we have been repeatedly promised. thank you very much for talking _ repeatedly promised. thank you very much for talking to _ repeatedly promised. thank you very much for talking to newsnight - repeatedly promised. thank you very much for talking to newsnight and i much for talking to newsnight and our viewers tonight. andy burnham,

labour mayor of greater manchester. well, a behalf of the government, i have been talking to the secretary of state for science, innovation and technology, michelle donelan. we recorded this interview at 8pm, with a fairly noisy reception going on beneath us, and by then nick had been told they would be no high—speed line between birmingham and manchester. nothing has been announced, and the prime minister was very clear today that he has taken this time to review the evidence and then make a considered decision, which is what i would want from a prime minister, and i think what most people would want, and i'll leave the prime minister to do any announcing on this agenda or any other agenda. but have you got no idea, then, as a cabinet minister, what's about to happen? what i'm telling you on national television is that the prime minister has been very clear that this is a decision he is taking and he is announcing. and i'm not going to be drawn on speculation. we've heard speculation all week and a lot of commentary on this very topic.

i mean, it's not speculation any more. 0ur political editor is reporting that there will be no high—speed line from birmingham to manchester, which... which suggests that you are betraying the north and announcing that betrayal in the north. i mean, that's one hell of a political strategy. i just want to correct you there, because it is speculation until the prime minister has announced anything, and the prime minister has not announced anything. you're about to betray the north and announce that betrayal in the north. but we don't know what the prime minister's going to announce. we will see tomorrow, and i look forward to that speech. and you can tune in, too, and i'm sure it will be a real table—thumper. you... your government was elected in 2019 on the promise of levelling up, on the promise of this high—speed line. i mean, this is a massive breach of trust with voters, isn't it? look, this is a government that is committed to levelling up, and we do that in every single department.

just today in the conference hall, i announced £60 million in research and development money to go across our country. and i know that, of course, we announced our £1 billion package for 55 towns. announcement after announcement is targeted at getting funding into some of the areas that have been left behind. what have tech businesses been been saying to you about the uncertainty, about the unstable, inconsistent business environment that your government is creating? well, that's just utter nonsense, because we haven't been creating an unstable environment. what tech businesses have been saying to me... you absolutely have... let me answer the question. so what businesses have been saying to me is that they are really excited by the fact that this is a government that is prioritising tech. for the first time ever, we have a department dedicated to science, innovation and technology. we've got a plan to get us to be a superpower. we're already incredibly successful when it comes to tech. we're in the top three countries in the world. you might be prioritising tech, but at the same time, because the chancellor said the costs were totally

out of control of hs2, you've created this massive, unstable environment for businesses. why should they trust you? look, the media has been speculating during the week on what's going to happen. i'm afraid that's not true. the prime minister is going to make an announcement tomorrow. the chancellor started this. and you're conflating my remit on tech, and actually, if you speak to any of those tech businesses, they will tell you that this is a government that is backing tech. what did you make of suella braverman's pitch for the leadership today? she wasn't pitching for the leadership. she was doing herjob and doing a speech on her remit as home secretary, including immigration. there's no vacancy when it comes to the role of prime minister. and on immigration, she said a hurricane is coming here. is she right? she's right that there is a big problem when it comes to illegal immigration. and we've made no secret. would you call it a hurricane? i would say it's a big problem.

my my language is different to her language, just like every politician is an individual. but what do you think of her language? i think that she's trying to emphasise how important it is that we tackle something that the british public are deeply concerned about. and that is why we're leaving no stone unturned when it comes to tackling illegal immigration, because it's fundamentally unfair. i would argue that fairness is in the dna of the british public. it's one of our key values. now, it's not fair to let people cheat the system, especially when they are predominantly economic migrants that are coming from a safe country. and why have you not sorted this out in 13 years? we have been sorting it out. why is it such a problem, then? look, this is notjust a problem which we are facing. the issue across europe is up by 30—odd percent. there are different countries in the world that are facing this challenge. that's why the home secretary went to america last week and raised it on the global stage. in your speech today, you said something that really struck me.

you said, we are the party of facts. mm. i wonder if i could ask you to just have a little look at this, please. a government diktat to sort your rubbish into seven different bins. what is sinister and what we - shouldn't tolerate is the idea that local councils can decide how often you go to the shops. _ it's no wonder that labour seems so relaxed about taxing meat. how can you be the party of facts when none of that is true? we are the party that stands up for facts and my announcement today... i'm going to pause you right there. none of those three things are true. well, it certainly is true, there are a lot of people that have been calling for meat taxation, and this government... no, no. i'm not going to let this go. there was never a proposal to use seven bins. we can't find any council that wants to decide how often people can go to shops, and labour have never proposed taxing meat. they are untruths. they are fiction. they are completely and utterly made up. and it's really disrespectful to voters. we are... i genuinely believe we are the party of facts and evidence.

i've just given you three pieces of fiction that members of your party have said in the last couple of weeks. well, i've heard members of the labour party advocating for those things and... it was never a labour policy, come on. that wasn't the words that were used there. and i have heard members of the labour party advocating for those things, and advocating for their party to campaign on those areas. is this how is this how desperate the conservative party is now? you're making up stuff? but have you been at this conference? i have. if you have, then you would say that this is not a party that is in desperation mode. this is a party that's in delivery mode. this is a government that is acting on the priorities of the british public, whether that is tackling illegal immigration, whether that is levelling up, whether that is increasing the national living wage. these are the things that are coming up on the doorstep. i want to ask you about something that happened at an event yesterday, and it's to do with susan hall, your mayoral candidate, tory mayoral candidate for london. she said that sadiq khan's

divisive attitude leaves jewish people frightened. have a look at what your business minister, nus ghani, told us. so i want to be absolutely accurate in my language in responding, in case i'm misquoted anywhere. and so the language of fear and demeaning our political opponents is not a conservative value that i recognise, and i see that, steve, you agree as well. and we just shouldn't stoop to it. and furthermore, to get the board of deputies to issue a statement to slap that comment down shows that his comments do not work, especially when they attract such condemnation from the people that you are purporting to support. and fundamentally, have we not learned anything from zac goldsmith's similar attempt in his mayoral campaign that ended in abject failure? who is right? susan hall, the tory mayoral candidate for london, or your business minister, nus ghani? look, i wasn't at either of these events.

you are asking me to comment on snapshots of information. well, i've given you the words of susan hall. i've just played you the words of nus ghani. it's pretty straightforward, isn't it? who is right? susan hall or nus ghani? look, you're asking me to comment on snapshots of information. what i believe is that we should live in a tolerant and respectful country, that we should stand up for things that are divisive and promote hatred. and that's the duty of us as members of parliament and of citizens. i will find out some more information on exactly what has happened, and i'm sure i'll come back and give you a more thorough answer. you also said today in your speech, "we are the party of free speech". yet today the leader of the conservative party at the london assembly, andrew boff, was ejected from suella braverman's speech after heckling her on her comments on gender. that's not a great look for a party that claims to be the party of free speech. i reject that. surely... why was he ejected, then?

i reject that comment because surely people have the right to be able to hear what suella is saying, the home secretary. so if somebody is trying to heckle them and disrupt it to the point that her view cannot be heard and her representation of our government cannot be heard, that would not allow for free speech, would it? what about his free speech? if he is trying to silence a view, that is the epitome of anti—free speech. were you in the auditorium for suella braverman's speech? i was not. i was out at a fringe event. i was. it was... it wasn't loud, it wasn't a big deal, it wasn't a big thing. but he was bundled out. look, as i said, we are the party of free speech. and that includes listening to cabinet... giving cabinet ministers the opportunity to air views. now, if people want to silence them and disagree with certain topics, then that is the epitome of anti—free speech. i don't think he was trying to silence her. i think he was just heckling. bloomberg reported this week, "allies of science secretary michelle donelan suggested she is one to watch in manchester this week, and may make her intentions clear". are you one to watch

as a future leader? no. there is no leadership vacancy at all. what i am is somebody that works extremely hard and tries to deliver, and that's what i've done over the last eight months and that's what i'm going to continue to do. one day in the future, would you want to be leader of the conservative party? i just want to get on with the job in hand. have you ever thought about it? i haven't, to be honest. you've never... ? i've recently had a baby as well. i'm trying to have a baby and be a cabinet minister. i've got quite a lot on my plate. i understand that. but you've never, ever thought about leadership ambitions? you're expecting us to believe that? no, i haven't. and i have, as i said, i've got a five—month—old baby, i'm in the cabinet. i'm trying to deliver for my constituency. i really do think i have enough on my plate. thank you very much for being with us. thank you. michelle donelan may say she's never thought about the leadership. but others here are, both members and perhaps some some cabinet ministers.

and some faces that have shaped the party's past. here'sjoe. is this party changing? last night, an unexpected crooner made a karaoke cameo. how does it feel to be back at this conference after 33 years? it's over 30 years. it's been amazing. nigel farage quit the conservatives in 1990 over the exchange rate mechanism. 0ptimism that they want leadership. he has been a headache for party leadership ever since. i've just in my own little modest way turned up. but today rishi sunak didn't rule out him becoming a member again. and some of the party faithful seem keen to forgive. but you'd want this man as party leader? i would love it. this is the type of person we need. i'm not saying anything wrong about rishi, but this is the man. although he's playing hard to get. look, let's see what happens. they're going to lose the next election. there will then be the most enormous battle for ideas.

if it became a real conservative party, i might think about it. of the members we met, optimism about the next election was limited. i'm wearing what i'm wearing, i'm supposed to believe - all things are possible. so that's probably as much as i can say on that! - the pm isn't at immediate risk of a p45, but the chatter about who's next has begun. who catches your eye in terms of future leaders? penny morduant. i agree, penny morduant, and tom tugendhat. and what you like about them? i think we need another strong woman, and i think penny morduant is excellent. kemi badenoch. you like her? yep. why? a more diverse face for the party. and the warm response to today's speech from woke busting immigration hardliner suella braverman suggest the tories could be heading to the right.

i mean, she's so passionate and so to the point that it was brilliant. she could definitely be a future leader. i was completely impressed. we are completely inspired. bookmakers suggest the top five most likely successors to rishi sunak are today's headliner suella braverman, leader of the house penny morduant, who played a starring role with a sword in the king's coronation, kemi badenoch, who has an extraordinary rise after first being elected just six years ago, foreign secretary james cleverly, a rare survivor through the may, johnson, truss and sunak administrations, gillian keegan, the education secretary, who says she has done a (bleep) good job. is it savage or sensible that even though rishi sunak could have another year in the job at least, some in his party already seem to be measuring his political pulse? the question over who's next is a very live conversation topic here. even their opinions differ on the alchemy of leadership success. what should conservative party members keep in mind when they are thinking

about the future of their party? traditionally, the conservative party has been hungry for power and been willing to do what it takes to get power. now, when that comes to conservative party members thinking about who they might select, we've got to remember that by virtue of being a member of a political party, they are a bit of an oddball. most people aren't members of the party, and it makes them a little bit more to the political extreme in the conservative party's case to the right than the average member of the public. so rather than thinking who appeals to just me, they've actually got to be thinking, who appeals to other people that aren't like me, the sort of people that you need to build a big election winning coalition. if rishi sunak needs reminding how unforgiving both those electorates can be, he needn't look far. both leaders ascended without the vote of the membership. how are you feeling about the future of your party, mrs may? and both faced questions about their mandates. but a party at war with itself cannot count on victory. with so much discord and so little harmony,

can the prime minister bring faith where there is doubt, even in his own ranks? i'm joined now by seb payne, the director of centre—right thinktank 0nward, stephen bush, associate editor and columnist at the financial times, and meghan gallacher, the deputy leader of the scottish conservatives. hsz hs2 is not happening, birmingham to manchester, is this one of those tough decisions rishi sunak said he was having to take? i’m tough decisions rishi sunak said he was having to take?— was having to take? i'm not convinced — was having to take? i'm not convinced it _ was having to take? i'm not convinced it is _ was having to take? i'm not convinced it is a _ was having to take? i'm not convinced it is a tough - was having to take? i'm not i convinced it is a tough decision to do something that is broadly popular with conservative voters and that most people unfortunately do not care all that much about. i suppose they've allowed it to bleed out to they've allowed it to bleed out to the conference but tough decisions i

things like deregulation of markets, targeting the various tax thresholds, the very high threshold for people brought in by the child benefit change so i'm not convinced this counts as a tough decision. and long—term decisions seems to be a way of banding together personal hobby horses of the prime minister. but i do not think that the i things that the country is much better off for having happened. it is that the country is much better off for having happened.— for having happened. it is one of the budget _ for having happened. it is one of the budget decisions _ for having happened. it is one of the budget decisions we - for having happened. it is one of the budget decisions we had i for having happened. it is one of the budget decisions we had to i for having happened. it is one of i the budget decisions we had to look at in terms — the budget decisions we had to look at in terms of where we are financially in the country but i think— financially in the country but i think we _ financially in the country but i think we are losing track here because — think we are losing track here because it is a world leading uroject — because it is a world leading project and the completed version whatever— project and the completed version whatever it may be, i don't want to speculate _ whatever it may be, i don't want to speculate just now. it whatever it may be, i don't want to speculate just now.— speculate 'ust now. it will not be what speculate just now. it will not be what is promised. _ speculate just now. it will not be what is promised. that - speculate just now. it will not be what is promised. that could i speculate just now. it will not be what is promised. that could be| speculate just now. it will not be i what is promised. that could be the case but i think _ what is promised. that could be the case but i think it _ what is promised. that could be the case but i think it does _ what is promised. that could be the case but i think it does not - what is promised. that could be the case but i think it does not take i case but i think it does not take away—

case but i think it does not take away from _ case but i think it does not take away from the fact that it is a well bidding _ away from the fact that it is a well bidding project and will have some of the _ bidding project and will have some of the fastest trains in europe once complete _ of the fastest trains in europe once complete it. but of the fastest trains in europe once complete it— of the fastest trains in europe once com-lete it. �* ., , ., ., ., complete it. but from west london to birmingham. — complete it. but from west london to birmingham, what _ complete it. but from west london to birmingham, what is _ complete it. but from west london to birmingham, what is the _ complete it. but from west london to birmingham, what is the point? i complete it. but from west london to birmingham, what is the point? that| birmingham, what is the point? that is a well bidding project and to put the scottish context as well in terms — the scottish context as well in terms of— the scottish context as well in terms of the scottish national party. — terms of the scottish national party, we cannot even get ferries to float _ party, we cannot even get ferries to float. �* ., ., ,., ., party, we cannot even get ferries to float. �* ., ., ., ., float. but what about the north of entland float. but what about the north of england and _ float. but what about the north of england and scotland? _ float. but what about the north of england and scotland? i _ float. but what about the north of england and scotland? i do i float. but what about the north of england and scotland? i do thinkl float. but what about the north of. england and scotland? i do think we will need to — england and scotland? i do think we will need to look— england and scotland? i do think we will need to look at _ england and scotland? i do think we will need to look at these _ england and scotland? i do think we will need to look at these decisionsl will need to look at these decisions again _ will need to look at these decisions a t ain. ~ ., . will need to look at these decisions ataim . will need to look at these decisions atain. ~ ., again. well he has looked at it and made the decision. _ again. well he has looked at it and made the decision. behind - again. well he has looked at it and made the decision. behind closed | made the decision. behind closed doors, they would not have wanted the optics of having to announce this in manchester when it affects the north of england so behind closed doors what will be going on now in terms of conversations? the crucial thing — now in terms of conversations? the crucial thing in _ now in terms of conversations? rue: crucial thing in whitehall and the conservative party is about what will replace hs2 because the prime minister made it clear he is not

resigning from the levelling up agenda. 0n resigning from the levelling up agenda. on sunday he announced a huge package of funding and devolution of powers for towns across the country and when the announcement comes in the conference hall tomorrow it will be that were not pressing ahead with hs2 as planned but will be doing x and the question is what is x and we strongly believe that connectivity between northern towns is key to delivering levelling up. you need to better link together manchester, liverpool, and leeds. some would you have started hs2 if we knew this is where it was going to end up? but what i will be looking for is what is replacing it and what kind of projects and will they achieve the aim of bringing the cities closer together because the point of levelling up is trying to deal with the economic might of london and the south—east. and there was powerhouse

rail, the point that is to achieve some of those aims without the complications and cost overruns of h52. complications and cost overruns of hs2. ~ ., ., complications and cost overruns of h52. . ., ., _, complications and cost overruns of h52. . ., ., ., ., complications and cost overruns of h52. ., ., ., ., ., h52. what do you want to hear from rishi sunak — h52. what do you want to hear from rishi sunak tomorrow? _ h52. what do you want to hear from rishi sunak tomorrow? he - h52. what do you want to hear from rishi sunak tomorrow? he has i h52. what do you want to hear from rishi sunak tomorrow? he has got l h52. what do you want to hear from i rishi sunak tomorrow? he has got his five key priorities. _ rishi sunak tomorrow? he has got his five key priorities. what _ rishi sunak tomorrow? he has got his five key priorities. what about - five key priorities. what about vision? i think his vision in the past 12 months, he's been busy tackling the big issues of the cost of living and recently i was delighted to hear about the one at £40 million investment for scottish towns and i think that will be excellent as part of the levelling up excellent as part of the levelling up agenda. what about the vision? i think fixing right now what we need to fix. i5 think fixing right now what we need to fix. . ., ,, think fixing right now what we need tofix. , ., ., to fix. is that your message to voters? both _ to fix. is that your message to voters? both conservatives i to fix. is that your message to voters? both conservatives to| to fix. is that your message to i voters? both conservatives to fix the problem is conserved caused? well we have had global issues, the cost of living is also due to the

war in ukraine and we are getting on with thejob and war in ukraine and we are getting on with the job and the priorities he set out. i work keen to hear what more he will have to say tomorrow. what you think of suella braverman and her speech today? i what you think of suella braverman and her speech today?— and her speech today? i thought it was a very effective _ and her speech today? i thought it was a very effective pitch - and her speech today? i thought it was a very effective pitch for i was a very effective pitch for leader— was a very effective pitch for leader of— was a very effective pitch for leader of the opposition. the message, for emotional voter, the message _ message, for emotional voter, the message is— message, for emotional voter, the message is woke is out of control, liberalism — message is woke is out of control, liberalism is— message is woke is out of control, liberalism is running amok so vote conservative. this time we are going to tackle _ conservative. this time we are going to tackle it~ — conservative. this time we are going to tackle it. but what i think she was doing — to tackle it. but what i think she was doing cleverly is pitching herself— was doing cleverly is pitching herself and when party goes into opposition there is always a tendency to think we lost because we were not— tendency to think we lost because we were not sufficiently ourselves and she is _ were not sufficiently ourselves and she is doing a good job of pitching herself— she is doing a good job of pitching herself for— she is doing a good job of pitching herself for that and also not appearing to be disloyal or disrupting conference. and party members — disrupting conference. and party members always want someone who will be a more _ members always want someone who will be a more authentic version of the

party— be a more authentic version of the party but — be a more authentic version of the party but he was not being disruptive so from that perspective that speech was well thought out. but elections are won by the party that appeared to be more moderate and that— that appeared to be more moderate and that was not moderate. it and that was not moderate. reminded and that was not moderate. it reminded me of the importance of storytelling in politics and it goes to what you said earlier, the fact is that rishi sunak, we know what he's going to announce tomorrow but he's going to announce tomorrow but he has got to tell a compelling story about why the conservative party should win a fifth historic term which the party has never done throughout its history before. and the reason that speech from suella braverman connected with the audience in manchester is it was very well done and knitted together well and spoke to what conservatives want to hear about how they see things in terms of border control and border security and the small boats crisis. so for rishi sunak to try to take the mission of saint he was my vision notjust for the next year but the next year i'm going to

deliver things and then