Costs have risen, and the government is thought to be considering cancelling or at least delaying that second leg to the north. The route from birmingham to leeds has already been scrapped. But many voices, including several within the conservatives, say that pulling the plug on the project would paint the uk in a very bad light. Live now to manchester and our political correspondent, nick eardley. The Prime Minister has been speaking to the bbc today, once again refusing to announce a final decision on that Manchester Leg. Yes, he has not said much. There has been speculation for days about what is going on with hsz, whether thats birmingham to Manchester Leg is going to be scrapped. Were pretty sure it is because what would normally happen if that wasnt the is someone would put their hand up and say you have got it wrong, it is going to go ahead. The question is when the Prime Minister is actually going to announce that, and when we might get some clarity on what is going to happen instead. As you say, the Prime Minister was on bbc breakfast this morning and asked repeatedly about whether hs2 to manchester, to this city where the Tory Conference is happening just now, was going to go ahead. I Tory Conference is happening ust now, was going to go ahead. I know there is lots now, was going to go ahead. I know there is lots of now, was going to go ahead. I know there is lots of speculation, now, was going to go ahead. I know there is lots of speculation, but now, was going to go ahead. I know there is lots of speculation, but i i there is lots of speculation, but i am not there is lots of speculation, but i am not going to be forced into a premature am not going to be forced into a premature decision because it is good premature decision because it is good for premature decision because it is good for someone s tv programme. I want to good for someone s tv programme. I want to make good for someone s tv programme. I want to make the right decision for the country. This is an enormous amount the country. This is an enormous amount of the country. This is an enormous amount of peoples money, Taxpayers Money amount of peoples money, Taxpayers Money. Everybody watching. Millions of pounds. Money. Everybody watching. Millions of pounds, and we should not be rushed of pounds, and we should not be rushed into of pounds, and we should not be rushed into things like that. What people rushed into things like that. What people would expect from me is to take the people would expect from me is to take the time to go over it properly and make take the time to go over it properly and make sure we make the right tongterm and make sure we make the right long term decision for the country and that long term decision for the country and that is long term decision for the country and that is what i am interested in doing and that is what i am interested in doing. Thats what politicians should doing. Thats what politicians should be doing and thats what the country should be doing and thats what the country wants to see. That country wants to see. That was the panellist on bbc breakfast this morning. There have been some pretty clear hints from Government Ministers about why they are getting close to cancelling that lead, namely the cost. The chancellor has been talking about being careful with Taxpayers Money and other ministers have talked about making sure that this is not allowed to run into some sort of crazy budget that the country cant afford. But assuming the Prime Minister does make the decision that i think everybody at this conference thinks he is going to make now, which is to candy birmingham to Manchester Leg, its going to be really controversial, and it is going to be controversial with a lot of conservatives, too. Because successive conservative governments have tried to make that leg happen. Here is the former chancellor, george osborne. I here is the former chancellor, george osborne. Here is the former chancellor, george osborne. I think there is a treat george osborne. I think there is a great opportunity george osborne. I think there is a great opportunity to george osborne. I think there is a great opportunity to deliver george osborne. I think there is a great opportunity to deliver for i great opportunity to deliver for northern great opportunity to deliver for northern voters great opportunity to deliver for northern voters by great opportunity to deliver for northern voters by investing i great opportunity to deliver for northern voters by investing inj great opportunity to deliver for northern voters by investing in the infrastructure northern voters by investing in the infrastructure of northern voters by investing in the infrastructure of the northern voters by investing in the infrastructure of the north. Northern voters by investing in the infrastructure of the north. I northern voters by investing in the infrastructure of the north. I am I Northern Voters by investing in the infrastructure of the north. I am a| infrastructure of the north. I am a huge infrastructure of the north. I am a huge Fan Infrastructure of the north. I am a huge fan of infrastructure of the north. I am a huge fan of the infrastructure of the north. I am a huge fan of the line infrastructure of the north. I am a huge fan of the line across infrastructure of the north. I am a huge fan of the line across the huge fan of the line across the pennines huge fan of the line across the pennines and huge fan of the line across the pennines and i huge fan of the line across the pennines and i was huge fan of the line across the pennines and i was the huge fan of the line across the pennines and i was the first i huge fan of the line across the pennines and i was the first person to propose pennines and i was the first person to propose it. Pennines and i was the first person to propose it. So pennines and i was the first person to propose it, so im pennines and i was the first person to propose it, so im all pennines and i was the first person to propose it, so im all for pennines and i was the first person to propose it, so im all for going l to propose it, so im all for going ahead to propose it, so im all for going ahead with to propose it, so im all for going ahead with that, to propose it, so im all for going ahead with that, but to propose it, so im all for going ahead with that, but it to propose it, so im all for going ahead with that, but it is to propose it, so im all for going ahead with that, but it is not to propose it, so im all for going ahead with that, but it is not a i ahead with that, but it is not a substitute ahead with that, but it is not a substitute for ahead with that, but it is not a substitute for hsz, ahead with that, but it is not a substitute for hsz, is ahead with that, but it is not a substitute for hsz, is not ahead with that, but it is not a substitute for hsz, is not an. Substitute for hsz, is not an alternative substitute for hsz, is not an alternative to substitute for hsz, is not an alternative to hsz substitute for hsz, is not an alternative to h52 and substitute for hsz, is not anj alternative to h52 and those projects alternative to h52 and those projects should alternative to h52 and those projects should go alternative to h52 and those projects should go ahead alternative to h52 and those projects should go ahead together. There projects should go ahead together. There is projects should go ahead together. There is a projects should go ahead together. There is a Counter Projects should go ahead together. There is a Counter Argument projects should go ahead together. There is a Counter Argument at projects should go ahead together. J there is a Counter Argument at this conference. There are a lot of conservatives who think the cost of h52 is far too much. A lot have been hs2 is far too much. A lot have been against it since its inception because they thought it would rip up parts of the english countryside. There are some northern tory mps who think we would be better off spending the cash improving connectivity in the north between east and west. Lets chat all of this through with the former transport secretary, justine greening. Good morning. What do you think . Is it a good idea for the Prime Minister to put his head above the parapet, said today that this is not going to happen . Not going to happen . Theres two thins. Not going to happen . Theres two things one not going to happen . Theres two things one is not going to happen . Theres two things. One is the not going to happen . Theres two things. One is the decision not going to happen . Theres two things. One is the decision itself, | things. One is the decision itself, and i things. One is the decision itself, and i think things. One is the decision itself, and i think we should be getting on with hsz and i think we should be getting on with h52 and both those northern les with h52 and both those northern legs actually, but particularly the one to legs actually, but particularly the one to manchester. I think that as a whole one to manchester. I think that as a whole strategy, it is a long High Speed Rail Network and has to id High Speed Rail Network and has to go above High Speed Rail Network and has to go above birmingham if you are really go above birmingham if you are really going to get those levelling up really going to get those levelling up benefits for the north of england. It would be a mistake from my perspective if the government does axe my perspective if the government does axe that Manchester Leg. The second does axe that Manchester Leg. The second challenge, nick, is the handling second challenge, nick, is the handling of this now. The fact that really handling of this now. The fact that really it handling of this now. The fact that really it has been up in the air for weeks really it has been up in the air for weeks now. Really it has been up in the air for weeks now, in a sense, and here we are at weeks now, in a sense, and here we are at conservative conference in manchester, still with no clarity, and i manchester, still with no clarity, and i think manchester, still with no clarity, and i think for a lot of activists, but particularly people in this region. But particularly people in this region. It but particularly people in this region, itjust feels like there needs region, itjust feels like there needs to region, itjust feels like there needs to be some clarity. It is how you deal needs to be some clarity. It is how you deal with people on such a big issue you deal with people on such a big issue that you deal with people on such a big issue that really matters. You deal with people on such a big issue that really matters. There has been a lot of issue that really matters. There has been a lot of criticism issue that really matters. There has been a lot of criticism from issue that really matters. There has been a lot of criticism from senior l been a lot of criticism from senior conservatives, former Prime Ministers and we just heard george osborne. How much trouble is the Prime Minister going to have on his hands if, as widely expected, he confirms that he is cancelling the leg to manchester . Confirms that he is cancelling the leg to manchester . Well, i think a lot of peeple. Leg to manchester . Well, i think a lot of people, myself leg to manchester . Well, i think a lot of people, myself included,. Leg to manchester . Well, i think a l lot of people, myself included, have been clear lot of people, myself included, have been clear that we want this project to go been clear that we want this project to go ahead. There are the debates around to go ahead. There are the debates around cost, but if you had had purely around cost, but if you had had purely a around cost, but if you had had purely a Treasury Spreadsheet when the victorians were building or thinking the victorians were building or thinking of building the rail network, we wouldnt have any railways network, we wouldnt have any railways today. This is a strategic tongterm railways today. This is a strategic long term project for britain that we need long term project for britain that we need to get on with, and they will be we need to get on with, and they will be inevitably many people in the party will be inevitably many people in the party that cannot understand why the party that cannot understand why the party the party that cannot understand why the party is the party that cannot understand why the party is now you turning on such an intportant the party is now you turning on such an important strategic transport decision, an important strategic transport decision, especially one that is the linchpin decision, especially one that is the linchpin of decision, especially one that is the linchpin of any levelling up plans by the linchpin of any levelling up plans by the government for the north. Justin by the government for the north. Justin greening, former transport secretary and otherjobs as well, thank you for your time. It is a strange paradox of having all these conversations about what is going to happen with hs2 conversations about what is going to happen with h52 in what used to be a Railway Station here in manchester. I should point out that the West Midlands meier, andy street, a pretty high profile conservative, has been really scathing of the possibility that hs2 between birmingham and manchester should be cancelled. He did not rule out resigning from the party if that happens. So it feels like, although the Prime Minister doesnt want to talk about it or confirm anything, he may do it in his speech tomorrow, and there is plenty of length in this story yet. And there is plenty of length in this story yet this story yet. Thank you, nick eardle. Eardley. And nick will bejoining us throughout the day from manchester here on bbc news. The second part of the uks Covid Inquiry starts taking evidence later today. Whatsapp messages sent between the former Prime Minister borisjohnson and other senior officials are expected to form an important part of the evidence. Our Health Reporter jim reed has more details. March 2020, and england narrowly beat wales at twickenham. The Prime Minister was there that day as covid cases were rising. That weekend, italy announced a lockdown. The next week, though, the Cheltenham Festival was allowed to go ahead. The virus is deadly. A quarter of a Million People attended. This one is my wife and i at twickenham. Geoff was at both events and is sure he caught covid there. I come home, felt terrible. My temperature was going up and up. My wife was getting more worried. And so the sunday, she called an ambulance. A bbc wales crew filmed geoff in hospital. Its only literally this covid thing, which literally wiped my world. He accepts it was his own decision to go to both events, but says the government should have acted sooner. With the twickenham, yeah. We wanted to go, cheltenham, we wanted to go, but you know, if theyd have said no, which should have been the right decision, yeah, it would have been disruptive for a lot of people, but lives would have been saved. The second part of the Covid Inquiry will run until christmas and examine key decisions made during the pandemic, including whether lives could have been saved if lockdowns had been imposed earlier or differently, the effectiveness of social distancing, facemasks and other lockdown measures, and Public Confidence in the government, including the effect of any Rule Breaches by ministers and officials. These are the four walls, that was all i saw every day. James had to shield in his flat for 18 months through the pandemic. The medication he takes for arthritis weakens his immune system. I didnt see another human being the whole entire time, except for when i went to the hospital to get myjabs. And that was my first interaction with a human, was the nurse giving me myjab. He filmed these Video Diaries in 2020. My day to day life has changed so much. I used to be a really outgoing person. Four million were told to shield like this. New research for the Charity Versus arthritis found for many, it had a huge impact on their physical and Mental Health. Are there questions you would like answered . I mean, in terms of the shielding, i dont know, we were never like checked on at all. We were asked to do this massive thing, this mentally straining thing. They didnt check on our Mental Health or our physical health at all. In 2021, james was jabbed and shielding was lifted. Thats fine, i didnt realise you did it the government says the choices it made saved lives and protected the nation. Scrutinising all those decisions will take time, with the inquiry set to last for three more years. Jim reed, bbc news. Live now to west london and our correspondent, ellie price. Ellie, questions as to whether whatsapp messages from the Prime Minister, rishi sunak, former Prime Minister, rishi sunak, former Prime Minister borisjohnson, and other senior officials at the time of the covid pandemic, whether they will be handed over to the inquiry. Where do we stand on that this morning, as this second part of the inquiry begins . This this second part of the Inquiry Beains . A , this sec