Sunak Stands Firm on HS2 Amid Criticism From Former Prime Ministers

The prime minister committed to a boost of £36 billion for northern infrastructure as he promised political change ahead of a general election.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak leaves Media City in Salford, Manchester, England, on Oct. 1, 2023. Stefan Rousseau/PA

Despite facing criticism from his predecessors in Number 10, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has refused to apologise for the cancellation of the northern leg of HS2.

The prime minister’s decision to scrap HS2 from Birmingham to Manchester ignited a wave of disapproval, with both former Tory Prime Ministers David Cameron and Boris Johnson expressing concerns about the direction of the country.

Mr. Cameron expressed his dismay over the decision, highlighting via X, formerly known as Twitter, the erosion of “cross-party consensus” built over 15 years and six administrations. The cancellation, he argued, would make it significantly harder to garner support for “future long-term projects.”

Mr. Johnson reposted Mr. Cameron’s statement, with the short caption, “I agree.”

In response to the criticism, Mr. Sunak defended his decision, emphasising that HS2 would be replaced with a plan benefiting a wider range of people across the nation.

He reiterated that the £36 billion allocated for the project would be reinvested in various forms of transportation, extending beyond just heavy rail, and would be distributed across different regions of the country.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4 on Thursday, the prime minister responded to questioning over whether he would apologise for “false promises” to northerners, saying: “No. What I want to say to everybody is that what we’re doing is going to be better for our country.

“You keep using the word scrap, but what we’re doing is replacing HS2 with something that’s going to benefit far more people in far more places and far quicker.

“Every penny that would have been spent on this project, £36 billion, is going to be reinvested in every form of transportation, not just heavy rail. And in every part of our country.”

‘Shuttle Service’

Mr. Sunak further rejected the notion that the first phase of HS2 would be reduced to a mere “shuttle service” between London and Birmingham, stating that the business case for the route remained strong.

He emphatically disagreed with suggestions that the decision might deter investors, emphasising that he was making necessary and strategic choices for the nation’s future.

During his speech in at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, Mr. Sunak portrayed himself as a harbinger of change within the political landscape.

Despite the Conservative Party’s tenure in power since 2010, Mr. Sunak positioned himself as a leader capable of bringing about significant transformations.

He asserted that his approach to politics differed greatly from his counterparts, particularly in his ability to make substantial decisions that would reshape the country’s trajectory.

Sunak to Do ‘Politics Differently’

Mr. Sunak told the BBC: “This is about leadership. I’ve been prime minister for less than a year.

“The choice at the next election is between me and [Labour leader Sir] Keir Starmer. I’m the person that’s doing politics differently. I’m the person making the big decisions that are going to change our country for the future.”

However, critics, including West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin and Mayor of Liverpool City Region Steve Rotherham, challenged the lack of consultation with northern leaders regarding the alternative transport schemes proposed in place of HS2.

Mr. Rotherham said, “When people realise that that’s not real money and it’s not going to be seen for many years, in some cases for decades, and some of it which was proposed to be spent across the north is being proposed to be spent down south for potholes, that’s not strategic transport planning.”

Critics also raised concerns about the absence of detailed plans and criticised the government’s announcements as lacking strategic foresight.

Speaking to The Epoch Times, Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell expressed his full support for the prime minister’s decision, calling people’s transport priorities the government’s “north star.”

Mr. Rosindell, the MP for Romford, underscored the importance of ensuring that people across the country, regardless of their location, should enjoy the same standard of public transport as those in central London.

Mr. Rosindell said, “I welcome the announcement by the government to invest £36 billion in Network North, demonstrating the Conservative commitment to level up across the union.”

He continued: “Every penny of this investment package will go towards improving the roads, buses, and trains that people across the Midlands and the north actually rely on and want to see improved.”

He also appreciated the allocation of £6.5 billion to enhance connectivity in the south of England, Scotland, and Wales, acknowledging the need for comprehensive transportation networks across the entire UK.

Confirming his support for Mr. Sunak’s Cabinet, Mr. Rosindell added that “the Conservative government has a plan to deliver.”

In his closing speech at the Conservative Party Conference on Wednesday, Mr. Sunak also announced considerable reforms to education, health care, and immigration policy. Mr. Sunak also announced proposals for a phased raising of the legal age of smoking in the UK.