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Wednesday, October 4th, 2023 3:39 pm EDT
Key Points
- UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has unveiled a set of new policies aimed at shoring up support for the Conservative Party ahead of the upcoming general election. These policies include the controversial decision to cancel the northern leg of the HS2 high-speed rail network and reinvest the allocated funds in regional transport links.
- Sunak also announced measures to raise the smoking age incrementally, restrict access to vapes for children, and reform the education system by increasing classroom hours and the number of subjects studied by 16- to 19-year-olds. These policy announcements come as the Conservative Party lags behind the Labour Party in the polls, and Sunak seeks to reposition himself as a candidate for change. However, his leadership has faced internal party discord and criticism for failing to address key priorities.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced a series of new policies aimed at bolstering support for the Conservative Party ahead of the next general election. Among the measures is the controversial decision to cancel the northern leg of the HS2 high-speed rail network connecting Birmingham to Manchester, citing rising costs and changing circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds allocated for HS2 will be reinvested in regional transport links.
Additionally, Sunak unveiled plans to raise the smoking age incrementally and restrict the availability of vapes to children in an effort to reduce the impact of smoking-related health issues. He also proposed an overhaul of A-levels and T-levels to increase the number of classroom hours and subjects studied by 16- to 19-year-olds.
These policy announcements come as the Conservative Party faces a 20-point deficit in the polls compared to the opposition Labour Party ahead of the upcoming general election. Sunak aims to reposition himself as a change candidate and address issues such as inflation, economic growth, public debt, and healthcare. However, his leadership has been marred by internal party discord and public perception that he is failing to deliver on key priorities. Sunak emphasized the need for change and called for support from party members and the electorate.
For the full original article on CNBC, please click here: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/04/uk-pm-rishi-sunak-scraps-major-high-speed-rail-link-as-costs-spiral.html
