Soaring Costs of UK’s HS2 Rail Set Chaotic Scene for Tory Conference
- Ministers asking how high speed link costs can be controlled
- Chaos around decision makes me ‘weep’ says IFS chief Johnson
The UK government has already spent £24.7 billion on HS2 as of June.
Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt are reviewing how to rein in the cost of the HS2 high-speed rail link between London and Manchester, a minister said, amid growing speculation the government will scrap or delay a chunk of the country’s flagship infrastructure project.
Just days before the governing Conservatives decamp to the northern city for their annual conference, Sunak faces anger from UK business leaders, politicians across the spectrum and even a major donor as he considers whether to shorten the flagship rail project whose costs are threatening to spiral beyond £100 billion ($122 billion).