Boris Johnson has conceded that allowing people to work from home has "enhanced people's quality of life in many, many ways" but said the major HS2 project will be essential for the years ahead.

On a visit to Solihull in the West Midlands to mark the formal start of construction on the fast-speed train, the Prime Minister said: "I think loads of people have had the benefit of working from home.

"It's been magnificent and it's definitely enhanced people's quality of life in many, many ways and I congratulate people on the hard work they've put in from home.

"But I've got absolutely no doubt that mass transit transport infrastructure is going to be crucial for our country, not just now, but in the decades ahead."

Get the latest headlines: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/09/04/boris-johnson-news-rishi-sunak-tax-budget-hs2-brexit/?WT.mc_id=tmg_youtube_offsite_televideo-youtubevideo&utm_source=tmgoff&utm_medium=tmg_youtube&utm_content=offsite_televideo&utm_campaign=tmg_youtube_offsite_televideo-youtubevideo

Telegraph.co.uk and YouTube.com/TelegraphTV are websites of The Telegraph, the UK's best-selling quality daily newspaper providing news and analysis on UK and world events, business, sport, lifestyle and culture.