The Prime Minister acknowledged that "cost forecasts have exploded" and criticised the company responsible for developing the high-speed railway.

"I cannot say that HS2 Ltd has distinguished itself in the handling of local communities," he told the Commons.

A high speed rail line linking London to Birmingham first proposed 13 years ago. The cost back then: £7.1 billion.

Gordon Brown was Prime Minister when the Labour government extended High Speed 2 with spurs to Manchester and Leeds.

But the idea at that stage was already facing widespread opposition amongst Conservatives as the proposed route went through the Chilterns, to the north west of London, where many backbenchers had safe seats.

Nevertheless, when a decision was needed back in 2013, and despite the cost put at £30 billion, David Cameron pressed ahead.

And Nigel reveals what happened when he was invited to the oval office this week

Mr Trump says it should never happen to another American leader - and blamed the rival Democratic party, who he says are "horrible".

Before the speech he refused to shake the hand of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi - and she later ripped up her copy of the text.

Both the London Bridge and Streatham attackers had just been let out of prison.

An independent reviewer thinks the Goverment's plans could be illegal - but Mr Gove says something needs to be done.

The UK and European Union are on collision course for a Brexit trade battle as Boris Johnson and Michel Barnier set out competing visions of the future relationship.

Major stumbling blocks are already obvious, just days after the UK left the European Union, with battles over fishing and the application of a "level playing field" on issues including state subsidies, environmental standards and workers' rights.

The Cabinet minister re-iterated Boris Johnson's tough stance on the upcoming trade talks with Brussels, after Government sources confirmed the Prime Minister would use a speech in London on Monday to warn that the UK will accept no alignment and no jurisdiction from the European courts.

The UK is entering its final few hours of being a member of the European Union. At 11 o'clock tonight, Britain will officially leave the bloc before a transition period.

Speaking ahead of talks in Downing Street with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Mr Pompeo made clear that Washington still has deep reservations about the involvement of Chinese firms in Western telecoms systems.