For immediate release
Responding to the review's recommendation that the HS2 project continue, John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said:
"Being forced to come clean on the real financial and political costs of HS2 should be the final nail in the coffin for this white elephant.
"Pressing ahead with the line now would be folly, leaving all taxpayers saddled with a hundred billion bumper bill for a project which sees almost half of the benefits going to London.
"The government should spend that cash on the many more valuable and viable alternative transport projects on offer, which would do a far better job of levelling up towns around the country."
TPA spokesmen are available for live and pre-recorded broadcast interviews via 07795 084 113 (24 hours - no texts)
- Founded in 2004 by Matthew Elliott and Andrew Allum, and now with 80,000 supporters, the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) fights to reform taxes, reduce spending and protect taxpayers. Find out more about the TaxPayers' Alliance at www.taxpayersalliance.com.
- TaxPayers' Alliance's advisory council.
- In May 2019 the TaxPayers' Alliance released the results of the Great British Transport Competition, detailing 28 smaller infrastructure proposals that would cost a sum total of £45 billion and have a much greater impact.
- In February 2017 the TaxPayers' Alliance published research estimating the true cost of HS2 at £90.8 billion. In September 2019 the government updated their own estimates of the cost of the project from £55.7 billion to £81-88 billion.
- The Oakervee Review's Deputy Chairman, Lord Berkeley, released a dissenting report this month in which he estimated the cost of HS2 at £107 billion.