Hunt keeps axing of HS2 up sleeve for Budget as northern mayors warn U-turn will see Tory election wipeout

PA

Jeremy Hunt is keeping the option of scrapping the second phase of HS2 at his upcoming mini-Budget in a bid to find room for tax cuts.

The Independent understands that Rishi Sunak and his chancellor remain in active discussions over the scrapping of parts of the high-speed project, and that the decision could be laid out in the autumn statement.