Conservatives pledge town funding, while UK finance minister rules out tax cuts

Rishi Sunak has announced £1.1bn of funding for towns that have been "overlooked" ahead of the Conservative Party conference in Manchester. However, the prime minister faces pressure from within his party, with issues such as tax cuts and HS2 causing divisions. Richard Walker, the boss of Iceland supermarkets and a prominent supporter, has resigned from the party, accusing it of having "lost its way." Other Tory MPs are calling for tax cuts, and former Home Secretary Priti Patel has criticized the party's behavior in government. The completion of the HS2 rail line and the debate on leaving the European Convention on Human Rights are also looming over the conference.