Reacting to news that Sir Kier Starmer intends to revive the Birmingham to Crewe section of HS2, Penny Gaines, Stop HS2 chair, said:
“We keep hearing about an ever-increasing black hole in the budget, and no wonder. Phase 1 is already expected to cost at least £56 billion, adding the extension to Crewe will add many billions to the cost.
“There is no suggestion that private finance will fund HS2. Of course construction companies will be eager to encourage the government to build more of the HS2 gravy train, the risk is all on the public finances, and the profits will all go to the companies building it.
“The economic arguments against HS2 have got stronger since the last Labour government first introduced it. Commuting patterns are very different now, with many people working from home several days a week and videoconferencing has replaced the need for travel to meetings.
“But whoever builds it, the environmental costs of HS2 are still too high. We think the government should be pulling the brakes and cancelling the whole project.”