Prime Minister 'will soften HS2 blow with £30bn to sort roads, buses and trains', reports suggest

Rishi Sunak will announce a '£30bn' spending plan to sort roads, buses and trains as he attempts to soften the blow when he FINALLY confirms the northern leg of HS2 will be scrapped, according to reports.

The Prime Minister will take to the stage at the Conservative Party Conference at Manchester Central on Wednesday (October 4). He is widely expected to end days of speculation and announce that HS2 to Manchester will be binned.

There are reports this evening that the northern leg WILL be scrapped - and, to sweeten the pill, a bumper transport spending pot will be announced. Sky and the BBC have reported that the HS2 line will stop at Birmingham, where trains will continue to Manchester on the existing West Coast Mainline track.

READ MORE: HS2 updates as protest held in Manchester and latest reports suggest northern leg WILL be SCRAPPED

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The line will start in central London at Euston, rather than Old Oak Common, but between Birmingham and Manchester, trains will not be high-speed, according to reports.

Reacting to the reports, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham tweeted: "So, in other words, HS2 won't go to Manchester and people in the North will be treated as second-class citizens - again? What a disgrace."

Rishi Sunak has been under immense pressure to announce his decision on HS2 in recent days. He has refused to be drawn on speculation.

Labour councillors and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham gathered for a protest at the Central Library on Tuesday night (October 3).

Mr Burnham said it was 'no way to treat this city when you're in this city' at a hastily organised press conference, adding: