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It would be \u201ccrazy\u201d and \u201cirresponsible\u201d not to reassess the spiralling costs of high-speed rail link HS2, Cabinet Minister Grant Shapps insisted yesterday.<\/p>\n
Rishi Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt are expected to meet this week to decide whether to scrap a large chunk of the project. A decision on the fate of the leg north from Birmingham to Man\u00adchester is expected within days and former transport secretary Mr Shapps said the scheme risked sucking money away from local projects.<\/p>\n
The Defence Secretary said the Government could not write an \u201copen-ended cheque\u201d if costs were \u201cinexorably going higher and higher\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mr Shapps said: \u201cWe have seen the costs accelerate a lot. Of course, inflation has been part of that.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are various different estimates and that\u2019s one of the things that the Government wants to check, particularly on the costs now post the inflationary picture out of the war in Ukraine. I have to say that it would be irresponsible to simply spend the money, carry on as if nothing had changed, if there has been a change in that fiscal picture.\u201d<\/p>\n
READ MORE <\/strong> Another Tory big hitter joins HS2 battle<\/strong><\/p>\n He added that when previous commitments had been made, \u201cno one knew we\u2019d be in a war in Europe right now with all of the consequences, all of the costs, and all of the inflation. And any government that doesn\u2019t go back and then look at it is crazy\u201d.<\/p>\n Government sources insisted no decision has been taken but Mr Hunt believes the costs are \u201cout of control\u201d. Officials fear the project, that started construction under The budget jumped to \u00a355.7billion, before the Government issued a revised estimate of up to \u00a398billion before deciding to scrap the eastern leg to Leeds. But the future of the line from Birmingham to Manchester was thrown into doubt after costs for the London to Birmingham leg surged by around \u00a38billion to \u00a353billion.<\/p>\n The ballooning price tag could mean other transport projects would be scrapped. And the proposed benefits are falling rapidly. When the scheme was first approved, the Govern\u00adment expected it to generate \u00a32.40 for every pound invested. But this has fallen to just 90p per pound and it could plummet further.<\/p>\n Mr Shapps added: \u201cWe do have to respond to the budgets. We\u2019ve not only been hit by coronavirus, but the war in Ukraine. Any responsible government has to ask whether that sequencing still stacks up for what the country requires.\u201d Mr Shapps stressed HS2 was not the \u201cbe all and end all\u201d for Northern transport projects.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have to make decisions about whether you\u2019re going to invest in, for example, local transport schemes, which might be very helpful for people who are commuting. Obviously the large things like HS2, which I think is the biggest construction project in Europe, suck up a lot of that money.\u201d<\/p>\n London Mayor Sadiq Khan has written to Mr Sunak warning it could end up being a \u201ccolossal waste of money\u201d if the northern leg and the Euston terminus are not completed.<\/p>\n When the railway first opens between London and Birmingham, between 2029 and 2033, its terminus in the capital will be Old Oak Common in the western suburbs.<\/p>\n HS2 trains are not expected to run to Euston until around 2041 at the earliest and there are now doubts the central London extension will ever go ahead. Tory MP Craig Mackinlay said: \u201cMost damaging is the ragged state of the benefit assessment. It means the cost to the taxpayer will never return a surplus leaving the project as a mere nice-to-have trinket.<\/p>\n We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> \u201cWork patterns have changed radically since 2009 with online meetings and hybrid working. There is a sense of permanency that public transport will never return to pre-Covid levels.\u201d<\/p>\n Fellow Tory MP Daniel Kawczynski added: \u201cI do know that this is a highly polarised issue and I know that there are many constituents who feel that we ought to scrap it.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s something that the Govern\u00adment will have to address over the coming weeks and months, to explain what their strategy is, but I don\u2019t apologise for voting for it.\u201d<\/p>\n Andy Burnham, the Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester, said people in the North are treated like \u201csecond-class citizens\u201d by facing a choice between HS2 and a cross-Pennine east-west route. He told Sky News the southern half of the country could end up connected by modern high-speed lines, while the North is left with Victorian infrastructure.<\/p>\n Labour has so far refused to confirm it would fund the line to Manchester if the Tories axe it.<\/p>\n Source: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/4976204.jpg?r=1695592030113\")
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former PM Boris Johnson, could cost more than \u00a3100billion \u2013 up from \u00a330billion when MPs first approved the scheme in 2010.<\/p>\n
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HS2 Northern beset by spiralling costs and delays could be axed[INSIGHT] <\/strong><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/4976208.jpg?r=1695592030153\")
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