Boris Johnson’s closest aide, Dominic Cummings, is said to have argued the project should be scrapped

Boris Johnson faces a rebellion from up to 30 Tory MPs as he prepares to give HS2 the green light.

The prime minister will meet this evening with Sajid Javid, the chancellor, and Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, to discuss the future of the project.

Mr Johnson is expected to announce within days that the project should go ahead but make significant cost savings amid concerns that the final bill will exceed £100 billion.

Mr Javid now backs the project after a Treasury analysis concluded that no alternative could provide the same regional benefits in the same timeframe.

There were signs of frustration in No 10 after Mr Javid’s position on the issue became public yesterday.

One senior No 10 official told Politico’s Playbook: