Former Mayor Blasts Reform UK's HS2 Policy as Economically Irresponsible
Former West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has strongly criticized Reform UK's policy to scrap the High Speed 2 rail project, labeling the proposal as "utter nonsense" that would waste billions of pounds of public investment. The Conservative politician made the comments while discussing the future of rail infrastructure in the region, particularly focusing on the newly announced Birmingham to Manchester rail connection.
Cross-Party Support for New Rail Link Despite Delays
Street expressed cautious optimism about the Labour government's recent announcement to build a new rail link between Birmingham and Manchester, acknowledging this aligns with previous cross-party discussions he had with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. However, he noted the significant disappointment that this vital infrastructure project may not materialize for decades, potentially waiting until after the completion of the broader Northern Powerhouse Rail scheme.
"The good news is they've agreed with what we said, that there has to be an upgrade and there's logic to a new route," Street stated. "The bad news is that it's hugely delayed but at least the idea is alive. We kept that idea alive after the decision of former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to scrap the northern leg of HS2."
Defending HS2 Investment Against Reform UK Criticism
The former Mayor, who lost his position to Labour's Richard Parker in 2024, specifically addressed calls from Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice to abandon HS2 entirely. Tice had previously described the project as "wasteful" and a "train to nowhere," but Street countered this characterization with economic arguments.
"If it was scrapped now, it would just be writing off many billions of pounds so there's no earthly sense in that at all," Street emphasized. "It's utter nonsense. We have to finish as quickly as possible to make good on the investment. I am still a believer that we've got to make a network that goes all the way to Manchester and beyond to get an advantage from what we've spent."
Political Reactions and Infrastructure Vision
The announcement of the new Birmingham-Manchester line has generated mixed political responses. While Prime Minister Keir Starmer framed it as part of delivering "real, lasting change" through Northern Powerhouse Rail, Birmingham City Council's Conservative group criticized it as a "complete non-announcement" that offers little immediate benefit to either city.
Street highlighted the logical necessity of connecting Birmingham to Manchester, describing it as "the missing link" between existing fast rail routes. He pointed to the congestion on current railways as a compelling reason for the connection, while also calling for renewed focus on selling HS2's broader benefits including economic regeneration, increased capacity on the West Coast Main Line, and environmental advantages.
HS2's Future and Leadership Reset
Regarding HS2's ongoing challenges, Street referenced CEO Mark Wild's commitment to addressing "the failures of the past and get HS2 on track" through a fundamental reset of the program. The former Mayor stressed the importance of establishing clear new target dates and rallying support behind them, while acknowledging the substantial work already completed by thousands of workers on the project.
Street concluded with a pragmatic note about fiscal responsibility, stating that "it is utterly reasonable to say not a penny will be spent beyond Birmingham until we've got a grip of our costs," while maintaining his belief in the ultimate value of extending the high-speed network to Manchester and beyond.
