MPs Raise Concerns Over Possible Axing of HS2 Northern Leg

MPs Express Concerns Regarding Potential Cancellation of HS2 Northern Leg

TruthUSA September 19, 2023 0 Comments

During a heated House of Commons debate on Monday, MPs fired HS2 questions at the Under-Secretary of State for Transport Richard Holden.

Parliamentarians have raised concerns over the possible discontinuation of the High Speed 2 (HS2) project in the north of the country, accusing the government of “gross mismanagement.”

During a heated House of Commons debate on Monday, Tory as well as opposition MPs fired HS2 questions at the Under-Secretary of State for Transport Richard Holden.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt have reportedly discussed termination of the Birmingham to Manchester section and the stretch from Old Oak Common in west London to Euston station in the centre. The Epoch Times has been unable to independently verify the discussion.

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Labour’s shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh accused the government of a “great rail betrayal.”

Richard Holden, Conservative MP for North West Durham, speaks to the press following the resignation of Liz Truss as prime minister, in London, on Oct. 20, 2022. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

She asked Mr. Holden about the government’s commitment to the project. Mr. Holden said that Downing Street is “getting on with delivering on rail” and will keep the House updated.

When asked to deliver an unambiguous answer on building HS2 from Euston to Manchester, Mr. Holden said that abandoning the north was out of the question, but refused to give a concrete response.

The high-speed railway, announced in 2013, was initially planned to link London and the West Midlands, later extending the route to cities in the north.

In March, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced a two-year halt to work at Euston in London, which is the terminus station for HS2. The decision was made to save money, as the total cost of HS2 reached over £100 billion.

Government ministers have signalled in the past that the future of HS2 depends on budgetary considerations. Meanwhile, Labour has reportedly committed to deliver the project in full if the party wins the next general election.

At the same time, Labour’s Campaign Coordinator Pat McFadden told the BBC that he would need to see the project’s revised costs before the party reveals its final decision in its manifesto.