TORY'S MISMANAGEMENT - WHY CAN'T BRITAIN EVER GET THE BIG THINGS RIGHT

It is not a popular theme by conservative party, and it is one of regular problem and issue with this government – yet another failure.

Since 2010 since it was first proposed by Gordon Brown’s Labour government everything gone – complete disaster with costs spiralling, delivery dates slipping and routes changing.

It was originally envisaged as a Y-shaped network which would go from London Euston to Birmingham, with two spurs to Manchester and Leeds. Every prime minister since Brown (Labour Party) – David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss (Conservative Party) – supported HS2, though in 2021 under Johnson’s government the Leeds leg was axed. Rishi Sunak – whose North Yorkshire constituency will not benefit from the current plans – now has to decide whether to scrap the Manchester leg.

Let’s remind ourself with some numbers to help you understand how the project has changed, and what is at stake.

£30bn – The original estimated cost of Hs2, including spurs to Manchester and Leeds, when proposed by Brown’s government in March 2010

£44.6bn - The current projected cost of HS2 phase one (2019 prices) – London Euston to Birmingham

2033 - The date for HS2’s full completion, when first voted through parliament by MPs in 2013

140 miles of track - The only bit of Hs2 that is under construction and guaranteed to be finished, from Old Oak Common in west London to Birmingham

2029-2033 - When the London to Birmingham leg will actually open to passengers

6 miles – The distance from Old Oak Common to Euston, HS2’s original London terminus

£4.8bn – The estimated cost of building HS2 from Old Oak Common to Euston

15 minutes – The time it takes to walk from Birmingham Curzon Street HS2 stop to Birmingham New Street, the main rail interchange in the Midlands

30,000 – The number of jobs supported by the construction of HS2, including close to 1,300 apprenticeships

2,700 - The number of weekend closures over 15 years that would be needed in order to upgrade existing lines instead of building the first phase of HS2 – according to HS2.

£24,000 – The compensation offered to homeowners who live within 180 metres of the HS2 route

1 hour 11 minutes - New journey time between Manchester Piccadilly and London Euston if HS2 is built in full to the north-west. The current fastest journey time is 2 hours 5 minutes

41 minutes - New journey time between Manchester and Birmingham on HS2, down from 1 hour 27 minutes

225mph (362km/h) – The top speed of the new HS2 trains

200 metres - The length of each HS2 train, with the option to couple two units together to create a 400-metre long train

1,100 seats - The number of seats on a double HS2 train

Question for PM Rishi Sunak:

Only the conservative party was all along involved with the HS2 finances. Was there any investigation where £14.6bn gone (mishandled, overpaid, spent elsewhere,...)?