This week, there are two versions of HS2. The first is a poorly executed infrastructure project, while the second is a powerful political symbol. These two versions have nothing in common.
HS2 was conceived in 2009 as a glamorous project under the Labour government. It was later revived by the Cameron government to offset its plans for local austerity. However, the proposal to connect Birmingham’s Curzon Street and London’s Euston was flawed, as it failed to link with Scotland or Eurotunnel through St Pancras. The main beneficiaries would be Midlands commuters and London-bound Manchester executives, doing little to address the chronic transportation needs of the north.
Since its approval, this version of HS2 has been criticized by reputable assessors, including the National Audit Office and the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, which labeled it “unachievable.” Treasury inquiries into its escalating costs have resulted in significant cutbacks. It is now unlikely to reach Manchester, Euston, or even Leeds. The company has also experienced multiple leadership changes and recently lost its chief executive, Mark Thurston, who was the highest-paid civil servant in Britain. Despite £50 billion in government spending cuts, HS2, with an estimated cost of £100 billion, was allowed to continue. Completion is now delayed until the 2030s.
HS2 is Europe’s most expensive infrastructure project, yet it remains outdated. Rail usage in Britain continues to decline slowly, with only 1% of journeys and 7% of distance traveled by rail, largely by commuters. The main constraint on capacity is currently staff shortages, not track availability, and improving signaling would likely have a significant impact on journey times in the north. Even Chancellor Rishi Sunak, a long-time supporter of the project, admits that its management is “out of control.” This project is indefensible when hospitals, schools, and local services are in dire need of funding. The government’s spending of £135 million per week on this white elephant is obscene.
However, from a political perspective, things are different, as they often are. Politicians, driven by irrationality and a desire to score points with voters, defend infrastructure projects and dismiss opposition. The massive budgets attract lobbyists, and HS2 is hailed as the future of the north, a symbol of equality, and a source of national pride, despite the lack of evidence. Value for money is irrelevant; patriotism is the driving force. Criticism is discouraged.
More importantly, HS2 has become a weapon in the political arena against Rishi Sunak. Previous leaders, such as David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, and Liz Truss, lacked the courage to cancel or control the project and instead rallied behind it. Keir Starmer and the Liberal Democrats support it,
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