Justice Secretary Alex Chalk has denied that the HS2 rail link project is a source of shame for the Government.
Speaking to Eamonn Holmes and Isabel Webster on GB News Breakfast, Chalk was grilled on the reported plans to scrap the northern leg of the multi-billion pound project.
Isabel said: "Here we are, day two of significant strikes in the NHS between junior doctors and consultants. And let's be honest, it's completely overshadowed by what we expect to be the abolition of HS2 tomorrow."
Chalk told GB News: "Well, first of all, I'm not sure that decision has been made. That decision hasn't been made.
Alex Chalk MP is quizzed by GB News on the Government's plans for HS2
GB News
"You asked about embarrassment. What I'm not embarrassed about is that the Prime Minister does the right thing on the basis of the evidence coolly, calmly and emotionally and I think that is the right approach.
"I think that's the only way that you do justice by the people of this country, the taxpayers of this country, to follow the evidence and that's what he does."
Pressed again on whether HS2 was a source of shame for the Government, in a discussion during Breakfast with Eamonn Holmes and Isabel Webster, he said: "No, absolutely not.
"And I tell you this, although of course, this is a decision for the Prime Minister and the Chancellor, I sit opposite the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in the Cabinet room when we look at things like the illegal migration act, so that's how you give effect to the Rwanda legislation.
"And I see someone who is the best-briefed person in the room, who goes through the details calmly."
Alex Chalk denied that HS2 was a 'source of shame' for the Government
GB News
He was asked if the Government was making announcements to distract from the HS2 row, he said: "No, no, I don't think that's right. I don't think that's fair.
"People want to understand that we are clear-eyed, and we're sensible, and we're making common sense decisions on these points."