October 1st 2023.
Rishi Sunak spoke on BBC Laura Kuenssberg's show this morning, and was challenged on his decision to refuse to commit to the northern arm of the HS2 rail link. He denied his failure to announce a decision on the project had made the UK a 'laughing stock'.
He said: "I'd completely reject that. I speak to business leaders all the time. I've recently been in Japan, America, and Europe, and we're attracting billions of pounds of investment into this country, creating jobs everywhere. That's what I hear from business leaders around the world, they're excited about the opportunity that investing in Britain offers."
The Prime Minister was also asked about tax cuts, after the CEO of Iceland claimed the Tories were 'drifting out of touch'. Sunak refused to give an update on tax cuts, but defended his prioritisation of inflation-reducing measures.
He said: "Change may be uncomfortable for people. People may be critical of it, but I believe in doing the right thing for the country. I'm not going to shy away from that. If I believe the right thing to do is to chart a new course for net zero, that will save ordinary families thousands of pounds, I'm going to do it. I'm a Conservative, of course I want to cut taxes. The best tax cut I can deliver for the British people right now is to halve inflation."
He was asked about Michael Gove's call for pre-election tax cuts, to which he replied: "As I've said, the best tax cut we can give people is to halve inflation."
Rishi Sunak also indicated that councils will still be able to implement 20mph zones for drivers if they have local consent and follow government guidance. He said: "What this is about is making sure that the statutory guidance that goes to local councils from government is clear about making sure that councils - which are in charge of what's happening in their local areas - are doing things with the support and consent of their local communities, taking into account the needs of their communities, and not imposing things on them without their consent and say so."
Transport Secretary Mark Harper will set out the details in his speech to the Tory conference, Mr Sunak added. This comes as top Tories are setting out their policies at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, focusing on levelling up, immigration, Ukraine, and the upcoming general election.
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