Now Theresa May says HS2 must not be scaled back one day after fellow former Conservative PM Boris Johnson declared cutting the rail project would be 'a betrayal of the North'

The former Conservative leader has called for the train line to be delivered as planned just one day after fellow former Prime Minister Boris Johnson said cutting the project would betray the north

Bankrupt Birmingham Council spent £4.5million on mostly online tuition and unsupervised 'home study' for expelled children - with the £30,000-per-pupil annual bill nearly twice that of one of the city's most expensive private schools

EXCLUSIVE: Flexible Learning (pictured) was paid more than £4.5million in three years by Birmingham City Council despite having no written contract, according to an internal audit.

Shocking moment Smart car killer guns down innocent driver in 'horrendous case' of mistaken identity is revealed as he faces life in jail for murder

Jervais Boyaram, 37, blasted Muhammed Sohail, 25, in his car on a residential street in Saltley, Birmingham on February 18 2022. He targeted Mr Sohail thinking they had previously argued.

More than 40% of kids haven't had both MMR jabs in parts of England as uptake rates plunge to decade-low in wake of pandemic amid rise of anti-vaxx myths - so use our interactive map to see how YOUR area fares

Just 56.3 per cent of youngsters in that age group in Hackney, London, were fully-protected against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) in the year to March 2023.

Rishi Sunak is battered over HS2 'betrayal' as he tours regional radio studios but insists taxpayer must get 'value for money' - and suggests fixing potholes is as important as rail links

Rishi Sunak was repeatedly challenged over speculation he will downgrade the massive project, delaying or axing the Birmingham to Manchester leg.

Brit 'danger tourist' Lord Miles who was arrested by Taliban in Afghanistan is 'alive... and VERY well': Daredevil is 'living in luxury - and is even planning to open a gold mine after befriending his Islamist captors', thrillseeker's 'friend' claims on X

The British 'danger tourist' who was arrested by the Taliban ' secret police is alive and 'living in luxury' after befriending his captors, a 'trusted friend' of his 'who talks to him regularly' has claimed.

Great British Bake Off viewing figures DROP compared to last year's launch show as Alison Hammond takes over from Matt Lucas as co-host

The Great British Bake Off suffered a ratings lump compared to last year's launch as its first show of 2023 aired on Channel 4 on Tuesday evening.

Sadiq Khan says Britain will be a 'laughing stock' if PM scales down HS2 to a 'shuttle service' between Birmingham and outer London - as he teams up with fellow Labour mayors who warn scrapping rail line will 'risk the cohesion' of the UK

Sadiq Khan, Andy Burnham, Tracy Brabin, Oliver Coppard and Steve Rotheram joined forces to deliver a message against 'leaving the North with Victorian infrastructure'.

Alison Hammond's debut as co-host of Great British Bake Off goes down a treat with viewers who say it was a 'stroke of genius' hiring her

Viewers of the Channel 4 series have said it was a 'stroke of genius' hiring the bubbly presenter for the show where she took over from former host Matt Lucas.

After the storm... comes the sun! Britain can expect an 'Indian summer' after Storm Agnes brings travel hell with 80mph winds set to batter the UK amid fears of falling trees and tiles blown from houses

Britain could be set for 'Indian summer' with temperatures up to 23C in October, after Storm Agnes batters the country tomorrow.

'I'm being attacked by a dog, you need to save me mum': Schoolboy, 13, begs for help as he is mauled by a Pocket Bully which 'took chunks out of his legs'

The 13-year-old (pictured) had chunks taken out of his ankles during an unprovoked attack which took place while he was visiting a friend in Kingstanding, Birmingham on June 25.

Rishi Sunak 'delays decision on downgrading HS2 until November' amid furious Tory backlash - with calls for route to be used to lay power cables to claw back value for taxpayer

Rishi Sunak had been expected to declare that the Manchester leg of the massive HS2 project was being axed or postponed amid alarm at spiralling costs.

Eco-activist who stormed Lord's cricket ground and was carried off by Jonny Bairstow leads Just Stop Oil's new drive to recruit 500 students to get themselves arrested during protests

Daniel Knorr, 21, a notorious eco-activist who stormed Lord's cricket ground is leading Just Stop Oil's new student recruitment drive.

Rishi Sunak is 'alarmed' by escalating HS2 price tag amid fears cost of running London to Manchester route could exceed £100BILLION - as opposition grows to axing major northern leg of rail line

Mr Sunak, who on Monday did nothing to quell fears he is preparing to either scrap or delay the leg, has told allies he is not prepared to watch the cost continue to rise, the Times reported.

Rishi Sunak is 'alarmed' by escalating HS2 price tag amid fears cost of running London to Manchester route could exceed £100BILLION - as opposition grows to axing major northern leg of rail line, with ministers 'set to scrap it within days'

Last night it was reported the PM is apprehensive of the growing costs of the HS2 while one official alleged that executives on the project have been acting like 'kids with a golden credit card'.

Ministers have known the business case for HS2 does not stack up for nearly two years, sources claim - prompting anger as critics say the project will not deliver its promised boost

EXCLUSIVE: Sources involved with the beleaguered project said officials were aware in the winter of 2021 that they would get as little as 90p of benefit for each pound of public money spent.

IAN AUSTIN: If they really want to level up, ministers must now hold their nerve and finish HS2

IAN AUSTIN: If the Government really wants to level up the country and persuade voters in the Midlands and the North that it is on their side, ministers must complete the job.

Bride who lost her sight at 17 reveals her wedding day was the 'happiest and saddest she's ever been' after holding out hope she'd be able to see - and blindfolded her guests so they could share her emotions

Lucy Edwards, 27, from Birmingham , began losing her sight at the age of 11 and six years later went completely blind, around the same time she met her husband Ollie Cave.

IFS chief says HS2 'makes me weep' and should NEVER have been started with Brits facing £50bn bill to get from Birmingham to London SLOWER than before - as Rishi Sunak 'prepares to delay Manchester leg until mid-2040s' rather than cancel it

Rishi Sunak refused to be drawn on signs that the government is on the cusp of downgrading the project again over spiralling costs.

Europe's worst-hit Covid zones laid bare: Time-lapse map reveals death rates were NINE times higher than normal in parts of Italy during darkest days of pandemic

Bergamo, in northern Italy, recorded 156.1 deaths per 100,000 people in the week to March 20 - 800.5 per cent higher than the average for that time of year.

Drone footage of HS2 construction work tearing across England's countryside reveals just how much work is left to be done with northern section of high speed rail line 'set to be scrapped in days'

Drone footage taken from points on Britain's faltering High Speed Rail 2 project has revealed the enormous scars ripped into the countryside across the route.