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Rishi Sunak dodged questions over the future of HS2 as he spoke to local radio stations across the country.

The prime minister was repeatedly asked about the northern leg of the high speed rail line between Birmingham and Manchester.

He was also quizzed on whether the route would now end in the west London suburb of Old Oak Common rather than Euston, as reports continue to surface that he plans to scrap the next phase of the project due to soaring costs.

Read more: PM pushed in series of live interviews – follow politics live

In a tough exchange on BBC Radio Manchester, Mr Sunak refused to give a yes or no answer to the presenter, saying: “I’m not speculating on future things.”

But he hinted at more support for the so-called Northern Powerhouse Rail, running east to west, adding: “Having greater frequency, greater capacity and shorter journey times… will make the biggest difference to unlocking the massive potential across the North”.

He also appeared to defend the viability of Old Oak Common on BBC Three Counties Radio, saying it had “very strong” connections into the capital.

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Earlier this week, Rishi Sunak again refused to confirm the future of HS2’s northern leg.

HS2 was first touted by Labour in 2009, before it was signed off by the Tory Lib Dem coalition government. It was designed to connect the South, the Midlands and the North of England with state-of-the-art infrastructure.

If the Manchester leg were to be axed, it would be the latest watering down of the project, with the eastern leg to Leeds scrapped entirely and work between Birmingham and Crewe delayed due to the impact of inflation.

Some estimates have put the total cost at more than £100bn, while the project has been rated “unachievable” by the infrastructure watchdog.

The line has numerous defenders, from Tory grandees like Lord Heseltine and former chancellor George Osborne, through to Labour’s regional mayors, who have criticised the government for not involving them in the decision over its future.

An announcement on the scrapping of phase two and the London terminus had been expected this week – but it has yet to surface just days before the Conservative Party heads to Manchester for its annual conference.

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Speaking to Sky News, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said people in the North were being ‘treated like second class citizens’.

Almost a year to the day former prime minister Liz Truss faced a battering on BBC local stations, Mr Sunak carried out the same pre-conference media round, beginning with BBC York, which asked him if he had “betrayed” the North over HS2.

“No,” he replied. “I think what people will see… [is] we’re investing record amounts in improving infrastructure but also delivering levelling up. I mean making sure that our town centres and high streets get the investment that they need.

“That’s really important and making sure that, as I say, transport infrastructure is being improved.”

Asked if the northern leg would go ahead by BBC West Midlands, the prime minister said: “There are spades in the ground right now at the moment making sure that we complete the first part of this line from Birmingham to central London, and we are absolutely getting on with that, that is important.”

But he deflected to talk about other forms of travel, saying: “We are investing in the transport that they use every day, making sure that the roads that people are using, probably right now as they are driving to work or taking their kids to school, are free of potholes, that the bus services that we have are reliable and frequent.”

Read more:
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Mr Sunak’s third outing came on BBC Manchester and presenter Anna Jameson accused him of “trying to get off” the HS2 topic, asking: “Let’s end this right here right now, tell the people of Greater Manchester, are you scrapping the HS2 line between Birmingham and Manchester?”

The PM replied: “I know there is a lot of speculation on this but we have already got spades in the ground on the first bit of HS2 and what we are doing is getting on with delivering it.”

Pushed on the northern leg, he said: “It is always right that the government is looking at things to make sure we are doing things in a way that creates value for money.

“But what I would say is HS2 is one of the many things we are doing to level up across our country and is one of the many things we are doing to invest in the north and in transport infrastructure in the north.”

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Accusing him of “going off topic”, the presenter asked him to “keep focus”, adding: “We are straight talking people in the north it is a yes or a no, are you scrapping the HS2 line between Birmingham and Manchester?”

But again Mr Sunak insisted he would not be “speculating on future things”. However, he again put the focus on the need for greater connectivity east to west, hinting it could be on offer if the north to south plan is ditched.

“Connectivity across northern towns and cities is important,” added the prime minister. “I’ve said it for years.

“I know that that connectivity across the Pennines is not good enough. And it’s not just Liverpool to Manchester, it’s all the way across the North. And that is probably the thing that will drive the most growth, create the most jobs if we can get that right. And that’s why we are investing in doing that. But we obviously need to do more.”

English regions unite in calling for answers on HS2



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The countdown to Conservative party conference has begun, and while Rishi Sunak would most likely want to be focused on the allocated themes of each day – the economy, cutting waiting lists and stopping the boats – HS2 looks set to derail that agenda.

On a whistle-stop tour of eight regional radio stations this morning, the prime minister was asked about the controversial trainline by more than half of them.

Unsurprisingly the West Midlands and Manchester stations grilled Sunak on the northern leg of the line.

Mr Sunak insisted there were spades in the ground building the line from Birmingham to central London, but as Old Oak Common is situated in the London travel zone two, most would not class that as the heart of the city.

The prime minister was accused of going against the North and betraying its people, to which he responded, “I know acutely where the challenges are”, and that he was focused on investing in transport links that people use on a daily basis.

But his justification for focusing on investing in local rail lines and roads making it easier for people to get around would bring jobs, drive growth and make life better for everyone could be interpreted as somewhat ironic, as some would argue HS2 would do exactly that.

The presenter on the Manchester station questioned whether Mr Sunak would be able to hang on to so-called ‘Red Wall’ seats if he continued the Tory record of broken promises to the North of England.

And after being played a clip of a leaked recording in which Mr Sunak takes credit for diverting funds from poor urban areas to rural places, the station accused him of not caring about areas like theirs.

But immediately after that on the Shropshire radio station, the very first question asked was whether he was ignoring rural communities.

And on the Three Counties radio station, the presenter played a recording of one man crying because he felt the HS2 development had destroyed his town of Wendover.

Indicative of the conflicting directions in which Mr Sunak is being pulled, the prime minister is under incredible pressure to not only make a decision on the future of the highspeed rail link, but to make the right one.

But that decision looks starkly different depending on who you ask.

On BBC Three Counties Radio, Mr Sunak was pushed over the final destination for HS2 in the capital, with presenter Babs Michel asking: “Where is Old Oak Common? Because it appears [it] is closer to Brentford than Trafalgar Square, so what is the point… it doesn’t help us at all.”

But the prime minister appeared to defend it as a sensible place to terminate the link, saying: “Old Oak Common is on the new Elizabeth Line and actually the connections from Old Oak Common to most London destinations, whether that is Heathrow, the City, the West End, Canary Wharf, are actually very strong.

“Obviously it is a new station that people won’t be familiar with, but its connectivity into all those areas is very strong.”

During the interviews, Mr Sunak was also challenged on crumbling concrete, waiting times for ambulances – and whether he wanted to buy Reading Football Club.

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Speaking to Sky News ahead of Mr Sunak’s interviews, transport minister Richard Holden said it was right the government carefully considers spending around the high-speed rail project.

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UK-US trade deal ‘isn’t worth the paper it’s written on’, says Nobel Prize-winning economist

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UK-US trade deal 'isn't worth the paper it's written on', Nobel Prize-winning economist tells Sky News

A Nobel Prize-winning economist has told Sky News the recently announced UK-US trade deal “isn’t worth the paper it’s written on”.

Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump announced the “first-of-a-kind” agreement with a live, televised phone call earlier this week – and the British prime minister hailed the deal as one that will save thousands of jobs in the UK.

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But leading economist Joseph Stiglitz has told Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips he “wouldn’t view [the deal] as a great achievement”.

“Any agreement with Trump isn’t worth the paper it’s written on,” he said, pointing out the president signed deals with Canada and Mexico during his first term – only to slap them with hiked tariffs within days of returning to the White House this year.

“I would view it as playing into Trump’s strategy,” he said.

“His strategy is divide and conquer, go after the weakest countries, and sort of put the stronger countries in the back.”

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How good is the UK-US deal?

The scramble to secure a UK-US trade deal was sparked by Mr Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ announcement last month, which saw the president hike import tariffs for multiple countries and subsequently send global markets crashing.

China initially faced tariffs of 34% and when Beijing hit the US with retaliatory rates, a trade war quickly ensued.

The US and China now impose tariffs of above 100% on each other, but representatives from the two countries have this weekend met for high-stakes negotiations.

Read more:
Key details in the UK-US deal
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President Donald Trump, center, with from l-r., Vice President JD Vance, and Britian's ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson, making remarks on a trade deal between U.S. and U.K. in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
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Donald Trump, with US vice president JD Vance and Britain’s ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson, announcing the deal. Pic: AP

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks on the phone to US President Donald Trump at a car factory in the West Midlands, Thursday, May 8, 2025.(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, Pool)
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Sir Keir Starmer dialled in for the deal announcement. Pic: AP

With its response to Mr Trump, Beijing “made it very clear that the US is very dependent on China in so many ways,” Mr Stiglitz said.

“So they’re beginning now to negotiate, but from a position of strength.”

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Asked if he thinks the UK should have focused on its relationship with the EU instead of the US, Mr Stiglitz said: “Very much so.

“My view is that if you had worked with the EU to get a good deal, you could have done better than what you’ve done.

“If it turns out, in the end, when you work it all out, Trump is unhappy, he’ll run. If he’s unhappy, I pray for you.”

Among the terms in the UK-US trade deal are reduced tariffs on British car and steel exports to the US, while the UK has agreed to remove a tariff on ethanol, used to produce beer.

The agreement also opens a new agricultural exchange, with US farmers being given access to the UK for the first time – though UK food standards on imports have not been weakened.

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Ex-UFC champ Conor McGregor touts Irish Bitcoin reserve in presidential bid

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Ex-UFC champ Conor McGregor touts Irish Bitcoin reserve in presidential bid

Ex-UFC champ Conor McGregor touts Irish Bitcoin reserve in presidential bid

UFC fighter turned Irish political candidate Conor McGregor has endorsed the idea of building a Bitcoin reserve in his country to give more “power back to the people.”

“Crypto in it’s origin was founded to give power back to the people. An Irish Bitcoin strategic reserve will give power to the people’s money,” McGregor wrote to X on May 9.

The former UFC champion said he would discuss his plans in more detail in an upcoming X spaces, prompting responses from some of the Bitcoin industry’s most prominent leaders.

Ex-UFC champ Conor McGregor touts Irish Bitcoin reserve in presidential bid
Source: Conor McGregor

“We need the greatest minds for this BTC Reserve. Message me and lets chat on my space,” McGregor said in response to Bitcoiner and host of The Pomp Podcast, Anthony Pompliano.

One of US President Donald Trump’s crypto advisors, David Bailey, also reached out, to which McGregor responded: “David message me, let’s discuss your ideas!” 

McGregor announced his independent candidacy for the Irish presidency in late March 2025, centering his campaign on anti-immigration policies and combating crime.

Ireland’s next presidential election must take place by Nov. 11, 2025, as the term of the current President, Michael D. Higgins, is set to end the day after.

Establishing a Bitcoin reserve — let alone one coming from a minor, independent party — would be no easy feat.

Despite recent regulatory progress, the US, El Salvador and Bhutan are among the few countries that have established a Bitcoin reserve to date.

Related: US has ‘countless’ ways to bolster Bitcoin reserve: Bo Hines

McGregor’s political visibility was recently boosted by a trip to the White House, where he met Trump and received his support.

However, McGregor is facing intense scrutiny in Ireland, having recently been found guilty of sexual assault in a civil case — a conviction which he has since appealed — while also previously being investigated for hate speech crimes.

McGregor’s last crypto endeavor failed

McGregor’s push for a Bitcoin reserve comes a little over a month after the McGregor-backed REAL project failed to attract sufficient funding in its token launch pre-sale, prompting a full refund to all token bidders.

The team behind the project, Real World Gaming, only raised $392,315 over a 28-hour presale on April 5 and 6, less than half of the $1 million minimum requirement that it initially set.

Ex-UFC champ Conor McGregor touts Irish Bitcoin reserve in presidential bid
Source: Conor McGregor

Magazine: Adam Back says Bitcoin price cycle ’10x bigger’ but will still decisively break above $100K

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Ukraine presses Russia for 30-day ceasefire as Starmer among leaders in Kyiv for talks

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Ukraine presses Russia for 30-day ceasefire as Starmer among leaders in Kyiv for talks

Sir Keir Starmer has joined other European leaders in Kyiv to press Russia to agree an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.

The prime minister is attending the summit alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, recently-elected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

It is the first time the leaders of the four countries have travelled to Ukraine at the same time – arriving in the capital by train – with their meeting hosted by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets with French President Emanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on board a train to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv where all three will hold meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, May 9, 2025. Stefan Rousseau/Pool via REUTERS
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Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz travelling in the saloon car of a special train to Kyiv. Pic: Reuters

Leaders arrive in Kyiv by train. Pic: PA
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Leaders arrive in Kyiv by train. Pic: PA

It comes after Donald Trump called for “ideally” a 30-day ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow, and warned that if any pause in the fighting is not respected “the US and its partners will impose further sanctions”.

Security and defence analyst Michael Clarke told Sky News presenter Samantha Washington the European leaders are “rowing in behind” the US president, who referred to his “European allies” for the first time in this context in a post on his Truth Social platform.

“So this meeting is all about heaping pressure on the Russians to go along with the American proposal,” he said.

“It’s the closest the Europeans and the US have been for about three months on this issue.”

Sir Keir Starmer, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Emmanuel Macron among world leaders in Kyiv. Pic: AP
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Sir Keir Starmer, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Emmanuel Macron among world leaders in Kyiv. Pic: AP

Trump calls for ceasefire. Pic: Truth Social
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Trump calls for ceasefire. Pic: Truth Social

Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said Ukraine and its allies are ready for a “full, unconditional ceasefire” for at least 30 days starting on Monday.

Ahead of the meeting on Saturday, Sir Keir, Mr Macron, Mr Tusk and Mr Merz released a joint statement.

European leaders show solidarity – but await Trump’s backing


Dominic Waghorn - Diplomatic editor

Dominic Waghorn

International affairs editor

@DominicWaghorn

The hope is Russia’s unilateral ceasefire, such as it’s worth, can be extended for a month to give peace a chance.

But ahead of the meeting, Ukrainian sources told Sky News they are still waiting for President Donald Trump to put his full weight behind the idea.

The US leader has said a 30-day ceasefire would be ideal, but has shown no willingness yet for putting pressure on Russian president Vladimir Putin to agree.

The Russians say a ceasefire can only come after a peace deal can be reached.

European allies are still putting their hopes in a negotiated end to the war despite Moscow’s intransigence and President Trump’s apparent one-sided approach favouring Russia.

Ukrainians would prefer to be given enough economic and military support to secure victory.

But in over three years, despite its massive economic superiority to Russia and its access to more advanced military technology, Europe has not found the political will to give Kyiv the means to win.

Until they do, Vladimir Putin may decide it is still worth pursuing this war despite its massive cost in men and materiel on both sides.

“We reiterate our backing for President Trump’s calls for a peace deal and call on Russia to stop obstructing efforts to secure an enduring peace,” they said.

“Alongside the US, we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace.”

Sir Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting in March. Pic: AP
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Sir Keir and Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting in March. Pic: AP

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Putin’s Victory Day parade explained

The leaders said they were “ready to support peace talks as soon as possible”.

But they warned that they would continue to “ratchet up pressure on Russia’s war machine” until Moscow agrees to a lasting ceasefire.

“We are clear the bloodshed must end, Russia must stop its illegal invasion, and Ukraine must be able to prosper as a safe, secure and sovereign nation within its internationally recognised borders for generations to come,” their statement added.

“We will continue to increase our support for Ukraine.”

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Read more:
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Michael Clarke Q&A on Ukraine war
Ukraine and Russia accuse each other of breaching ceasefire

The European leaders are set to visit the Maidan, a central square in Ukraine’s capital where flags represent those who died in the war.

They are also expected to host a virtual meeting for other leaders in the “coalition of the willing” to update them on progress towards a peacekeeping force.

Military officers from around 30 countries have been involved in drawing up plans for a coalition, which would provide a peacekeeping force in the event of a ceasefire being agreed between Russia and Ukraine.

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This force “would help regenerate Ukraine’s armed forces after any peace deal and strengthen confidence in any future peace”, according to Number 10.

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