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<\/p>\nTEES Valley Mayor Ben Houchen today hailed Rishi Sunak's plan to scrap the Manchester leg of HS2, slamming the multi-billion pound project as a "white elephant".<\/p>\n
At Tory Party Conference in Manchester, Mr Houchen insisted taxpayers' cash could be better spent elsewhere.<\/p>\n
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He told the BBC: "I think HS2 is a white elephant.<\/p>\n
"I think that money could be better spent on other things. A project that was supposed to cost \u00a332bn is now costing \u00a3180bn. <\/p>\n
"People I represent across the North of England as well would suggest that that could probably be better spent on other priorities that make a better difference to their lives."<\/p>\n
It comes as this morning Rishi Sunak insisted the cost of HS2 is "enormous" and has "escalated far beyond what anyone thought". <\/p>\n
Amid huge pressure from Tory MPs and members to finally confirm its fate, Mr Sunak told Times Radio: "It's clear that the costs of this programme has escalated far beyond what anyone thought at the beginning."<\/p>\n He added: "I know there's lots of speculation on it, but what I would say is I'll approach this in the same way I approach everything in this job, I will take the time to look at it properly, get across the detail and then decide what's right for the country.<\/p>\n "The sums involved are\u00a0enormous\u00a0and it's right that the Prime Minister takes proper care over it.<\/p>\n "It's obviously not my money – it's taxpayers' money and we should make the right decisions on these things."<\/p>\n The PM is expected to finally confirm plans for HS2 tomorrow during his major conference speech.<\/p>\n The address to party faithful and the public will be a make or break moment for Mr Sunak who will need to successfully sell his ideas and vision or risk a hammering at next year's general election.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/britains-prime-minister-rishi-sunak-849668787.jpg\")
<\/picture>HIGH SPEED FAIL <\/span><\/p>\nHS2 costs are 'enormous' and 'escalated far beyond budget', Rishi says<\/h3>\n
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<\/picture>OFF THE RAILS <\/span><\/p>\nMassive row over scrapping HS2 erupts at Tory conference<\/h3>\n
Most read in The Sun<\/h2>\n
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