Sir Gavin Williamson calls 'ill-fated' rail link a 'disastrous undertaking'
Rishi Sunak must scrap HS2 because it will become » «a mess of epic proportions,» said a former Cabinet minister.
Sir Gavin Williamson, the former education and defense secretary, called on the Prime Minister to «slow down» the rail project and said there was «no rationale» for it to go ahead.
The line north of Birmingham, which is said to be under consideration, would have passed through Sir Gavin's constituency in South Staffordshire.
In a scathing blog post, he called the «ill-fated» rail service a «disastrous undertaking.» «, with a balance sheet that makes «sobering reading.» He also warned of the serious financial, social and environmental costs and «real and undeniable harm» caused by HS2 to local communities.
Mr Sunak is reportedly considering scrapping the line north of Birmingham to Manchester and stop running the west London route rather than Euston as costs soar.
Initial estimates that the scheme would provide a benefit of £2.40 for every pound of public money spent have been gradually reduced to 90p — a figure expected to fall further.
Runaway Train — Estimated Cost HS2
The announcement was expected this week but is likely to be delayed due to concerns about the possible abandonment of the Manchester leg just days before the Conservatives arrive in the city for their annual conference.
< p>Grant Shapps, the former transport secretary who now heads the Ministry of Defence, said this week it would be “madness” not to reconsider HS2 plans given the financial situation.
What should the government do about HS2?
Mr Sunak faces criticism from Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, and George Osborne, the former chancellor, who have demanded he push ahead.
But Sir Gavin said: “What is possible , will The strongest argument against this imbroglio of epic proportions is the real and undeniable harm it will cause to local communities.
“This influence cannot be adequately summarized by numbers in a spreadsheet, and cannot be truly understood by reading intellectual policy papers from Westminster think tanks.
“It can only be understood by going out and seeing and talking to those who will see their communities, their livelihoods and their surroundings destroyed by HS2.»
Meanwhile, Lord Hague, the former Conservative leader, told Times Radio that the HS2 project was a «national disgrace». and said: “It should have been canceled years ago when it became clear that things were getting out of control, that the costs were out of control and they would never be able to go to Leeds.”
In July The Telegraph reported that the future of HS2 is in doubt after the official infrastructure watchdog warned that the «successful delivery» of the project «appears elusive».
Separately, a leaked document revealed that the plan to Axing the proposed Euston terminal would still result in a £1 billion cost overrun.
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