Former PM Warns of Long-Term Damage to Political Consensus Over Infrastructure Projects
David Cameron has strongly criticised Rishi Sunak’s decision to cancel the northern extension of the HS2 rail project, describing it as a loss of a “once-in-a-generation opportunity.” Cameron warned that the cuts to the high-speed rail project would make it much harder to achieve long-term political consensus for future infrastructure developments in the UK.
HS2, initially designed to connect London and Manchester via high-speed rail, will now be limited to running between Euston in London and Birmingham, with cities like Manchester missing out on the benefits. The £36 billion savings from scrapping the northern leg of the project will be redirected into other transport schemes, according to Sunak’s announcement.
Cameron, in a post on social media, stated, “Today’s decision on HS2 is the wrong one. It will help to fuel the views of those who argue that we can no longer think or act for the long-term as a country; that we are heading in the wrong direction.” He highlighted the historic, cross-party support that HS2 had garnered over the years, which he claimed would be undermined by this latest move.
The former prime minister emphasised that HS2 was a crucial investment aimed at improving the country’s infrastructure for future generations, helping to balance the economy and deliver the Northern Powerhouse. He argued that the cuts would undo 15 years of consensus, spanning six administrations, and hinder the ability to unite on long-term projects in the future.
Cameron concluded by pointing to other nations where transformative infrastructure projects are being completed, which he believes show a forward-thinking approach that the UK is now at risk of abandoning.
