HS2. A masterclass in how Britain destroys money.
The cost:
• 2011: £32.7bn
• 2013: £45bn
• 2015: £55.7bn
• 2019: up to £88bn
• 2020: up to £106bn
• 2026: up to £102.7bn… for a fraction of the original route
What’s been cut along the way:
• 2021: Eastern leg to Leeds: SCRAPPED
• 2022: Golborne link to Scotland: SCRAPPED
• 2023: Birmingham → Manchester leg: SCRAPPED
• 2023: Crewe hub: SCRAPPED
• Euston terminus: paused, downsized from 10 platforms to 6, now needs private finance
Original plan: 11 cities, 340 miles, £32bn, open 2026.
What we’re getting: 4 stations, 140 miles, £100bn+, open 2039.
A national embarrassment, paid for by taxpayers.
🚨 BREAKING: The Green Party's Zoë Garbett has won the Hackney Mayoral election from Labour
🟢 GRN: 35,720 (47.2%)
🔴 LAB: 26,865 (35.5%)
🔵 CON: 6,345 (8.4%)
➡️ RFM: 4,013 (5.3%)
🟠 LDM: 2,731 (3.6%)
Suella Braverman says the Equality Act will be scrapped under a Reform UK government:
“We will scrap the equalities minister. Yep, I’m doing myself out of the job. […] The Britain that I love is being ripped apart by diversity, equality and inclusion.”
Me: “The West is being controlled by a serial child rapist human trafficking cabal that conspired to foment the genocides and culture wars that have plagued this world for many years”
Offline person: