New HS2 figures show little light at end of tunnel

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The government has admitted that HS2 will cost up to £102bn and may not operate until 2039. Reminder: this is £70bn over budget and 13 years late. The sky-high forecasts, which follow a 15-month review, can be partly blamed on inflation, but most of the increase is down to insufficient planning, inefficient delivery and cost underestimates. HS2 was first approved in January 2012 and should have been running by now. Labour, which has accused previous Conservative governments of watching “the world’s most expensive slow-motion car crash”, plans to save money by reducing the top speed of trains. The Tories cancelled the eastern leg to Leeds in 2021 and the Manchester to Birmingham leg in 2023. Richard Holden, the shadow transport secretary, said that “whilst Labour talk about cost, you won't hear them admit they handed their union paymasters a 15% pay rise”. That’s what you call whataboutery.