Exclusive

'I won't chase short-term headlines,' Rishi Sunak tells LBC, amid HS2 row with former Tory leaders

6 October 2023, 16:23 | Updated: 6 October 2023, 17:21

Rishi Sunak said he was 'looking to the future' despite criticism from his predecessors
Rishi Sunak said he was 'looking to the future' despite criticism from his predecessors. Picture: LBC/Alamy

By Kit Heren

Rishi Sunak said he was "looking to the future" and politics is "not about what happened in the past", after he was criticised for scrapping the HS2 extension to Manchester by former Conservative Prime Ministers.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Mr Sunak told the Conservative party conference earlier this week that he wanted to break with the "false consensus" of politics of recent decades.

As well as delaying the ban on sale of new petrol and diesel cars until 2035 and reducing the scope of HS2, Mr Sunak also announced a revamp of school qualifications and pledged to create a 'smoke-free generation' under new plans to raise the smoking age by one year, every year.

But he has come in for criticism from Boris Johnson and David Cameron for his decision to cancel the HS2 extension. Theresa May also hit out at the decision to push back net zero targets.

Mr Sunak told LBC's Tom Swarbrick in response: "I'm just looking to the future.

Read more: Rishi Sunak refuses to back Suella Braverman after she warned there was a ‘hurricane’ of migrants coming to Britain

Read more: Government backtracks on key transport pledge 24 hours after Sunak's 'Network North' promises

Rishi Sunak speaks to LBC's Tom Swarbrick

"It's not about what happened in the past, it's about who's going to change this country for the better in the future.

"And whether it's on the decision on HS to the more pragmatic cause to net zero, a new approach to our education system to set our kids up for the future, or the decision that I made on on smoking.

"These are all big decisions, which will change our country for the better in the future."

He added: "Those are all examples of the leadership that I'm going to bring."

Rishi Sunak on LBC on Friday
Rishi Sunak on LBC on Friday. Picture: LBC

Mr Sunak said he wouldn't take the "easy way out" as Prime Minister, adding that politics over the last 30 years had been characterised by short-termism.

Although the Conservatives have been in power for 17 of the past 30 years, the Prime Minister said that it was unfair to lay the blame at his party's door.

"When I go across the country I don't think this is necessarily about this party, or that party," he said.

"It's a sense that politics for a long time has just not focused on making the right long-term decision for the country, in many cases just taking the easy way out, chasing the short-term headline.

"I want to do things differently."

Rishi Sunak on LBC on Friday
Rishi Sunak on LBC on Friday. Picture: LBC

Mr Sunak announced at the Conservative Party Conference that the northern leg of HS2 would be scrapped, meaning it will only run between Birmingham and London.

Instead, Mr Sunak says £36bn saved on the project would be reinvested into other local transport schemes, including by improving links between Manchester and Liverpool.

That decision came after Mr Sunak delayed the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars until 2035 as he watered down a string of flagship environmental measures that sparked a huge Tory row.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Rishi Sunak will call for an "era of action" on the climate

Sunak to call for 'era of action' on climate at Cop28 - despite watering down green measures at home

Released prisoner

Israeli military confirms release of six more hostages in Gaza Strip

Omid Scobie has insisted he never sent out a book including two royals' names amid racism allegations

Dutch translator on Omid Scobie's Endgame insists she was sent manuscript with two royals' names in race row

Lloyds banking group is closing more branches in 2024.

Lloyds group to close 45 branches as Labour pledges to keep banks back on the high street - is your local affected?

Hall and Oates

Hall and Oates row: Judge extends pause on Oates’ sale of stake in business

Hamas has claimed Israel is refusing to take back the bodies of the Bibas family

Hamas releases propaganda video of father of 10-month-old Kfir Bibas saying Israel refuses to take his family's bodies

Police clashed with Legia Warsaw fans

Three officers injured as Polish football fans unleash 'planned and systematic violence' on police ahead of Villa game

William and Kate dazzled on the red carpet as they brushed off Scobie's claims

William and Kate all smiles on red carpet as royals brush aside storm around Omid Scobie's book Endgame

Opec sign

Saudi Arabia extends cut in oil it sends to world in bid to boost prices

Exclusive
An 18-month row over pay, job security and conditions has come to an end, for now

'Provoke us again and we will respond in kind': Mick Lynch issues new threat to government after pay deal halts strikes

Matt Hancock appeared at the Covid inquiry on Thursday

Cummings a 'malign actor' and 'missed opportunities': 11 revelations from Matt Hancock's Covid inquiry appearance

Phillip Hancock

Man executed in Oklahoma over double killing in 2001

Milei has backed his country's claim to the Falklands

Britain 'stands firmly' with Falkland Islands as minister pays visit in fresh warning to Argentina's eccentric president

Matt Hancock gave evidence on Thursday.

Matt Hancock insists he is 'no liar' as he blames 'toxic culture' in No10 for Covid failings

Palestinians line up for food in Rafah, Gaza Strip

Tough talks ahead as Gaza ceasefire holds with more hostages freed

Caolan Gormley was convicted of an offence linked to the deaths of the 39 Vietnamese migrants

Last people smuggler in operation linked to deaths of 39 migrants in Essex lorry jailed for seven years