Statement on HS2

My view following today’s announcements

Today’s announcement from the Transport Secretary lays bare the extraordinary failure of successive Conservative governments to deliver HS2. Years of delays, spiralling costs and broken promises have left taxpayers footing the bill for a project that has caused huge disruption while delivering far less than originally promised.

The news that HS2 will not be running until at least 2039 will come as a bitter blow to rural communities in north Buckinghamshire who have already suffered for far too long from the consequences of building and engineering works in our patch. Click here for a full letter from Heidi Alexander.

I support delivering the infrastructure Britain needs, but HS2 has too often been marked by mismanagement, poor oversight and a lack of accountability. Britain cannot afford a repeat of these failures, and our Labour government is determined to ensure no future project is handled so badly again.

Locally, I have heard directly from residents in Quainton, Turweston and Westbury about the ongoing disruption HS2 construction has had on everyday life — including increased traffic, noise, road closures and the impact on rural businesses. I have also visited businesses affected by the works and understand the difficulties many continue to face.

I will continue to advocate strongly on behalf of north Buckinghamshire to ensure that the remaining works are carried out as smoothly as possible. Residents deserve better: proper communication, genuine accountability and effective mitigation measures must be in place throughout the remainder of the project.

Communities that have borne the brunt of years of disruption deserve to be listened to, supported and treated with respect.