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The scrapping of the HS2 rail line between Manchester and Birmingham will knock the confidence of the government's levelling up agenda, Lord Heseltine has told 5 Live's Naga Munchetty.

The Conservative peer and former cabinet minister compared dumping the high-speed network to a 'gross act of vandalism' in a Times article today.

He said Rishi Sunak's reputation, and that of the country, will take a hit if more pushbacks are made on the HS2 project.

Adding: "There are those who simply see Britain as incapable of holding its nerve in any long-time project."

Heseltine was part of Margaret Thatcher's government and was Deputy PM from 1995-1997.

Listen to the full interview on ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Sounds.

This clip was originally from Naga Munchetty on 25 September 2023.