Rishi Sunak, the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, is reportedly considering canceling the HS2 rail link from Birmingham to Manchester. The potential cost of the initial phase of the high-speed rail scheme, from London to Birmingham, has risen by £8 billion. A decision to cancel the Manchester part of the project could be made before the Conservative Party conference in October. However, the move faced opposition from former Conservative leaders, business leaders and the Mayor of London.
The Scottish Government may fail to meet its target of installing 30,000 electric vehicle charging stations within 12 years, the Scottish Conservatives have suggested. The number of charging points installed between January 2022 and 2023 is about 1,900, which is far below the target.
In London, demonstrators gathered against the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union, describing the decision to leave the bloc as a “big mistake.” They campaigned for the country’s return to the European Union.
The UK government’s energy efficiency taskforce, which aimed to speed up home insulation and boiler upgrades, was disbanded after just nine months. Ed Miliband, the shadow net worth secretary, accused Rishi Sunak of not caring about climate change and warned that households would face higher bills.
Celebrities Steve Coogan and Carol Vorderman have expressed their support for the Liberal Democrats’ proposals for electoral reform, calling for a change from a “win-win” system to proportional representation.
Rishi Sunak is rumored to be considering cutting inheritance tax in a bid to win over voters ahead of the general election. However, 10 Downing Street sought to play down such speculation, stating that no firm plans have been formulated.
Finally, a landslide in western Sweden opened a sinkhole on a major highway, injuring three people.
Sources: The Sunday Telegraph, The Observer, Scottish Conservatives, BBC News
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