Greens call for public inquiry into HS2 mismanagement 

8 October 2023

The Green Party conference called for a full public inquiry into the Conservative Government’s mismanagement of HS2, in an emergency motion to its Brighton conference. 

Members called for Parliament to investigate: 

• Lack of oversight and regulation of HS2 finances
• The mismanagement of the Euston rebuild
• The removal of safeguarding of the route, effectively an attempt to sabotage future governments
• The redirecting of funds from HS2 cancellation to road building schemes, which is incompatible with the Climate Emergency 

Green Peer Natalie Bennett said: “It is clear that whatever anyone’s views on HS2 as a project, the Conservatives have hopelessly mismanaged both the build and the most recent decision to cancel the project. 

"To restore trust, we need to ensure that lessons are learnt from this disastrous experience and the public has a clear view of responsibilities. 

"Particularly, there needs to be an examination of how money can be transferred from rail to road spending in this cavalier and non-transparent way." 

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that Phase 2 of HS2 from Birmingham to Manchester would be cancelled.