With High Speed 2 (HS2) closing applications for a new chair in 3
weeks, the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) are putting forward a
candidate to represent taxpayers’ interests.
If offered the position, TPA candidate Harry Fone would cut down
waste and then scrap the project, after Freedom of Information
requests compiled by the TPA found that the quango spent over
£2.5 million on business travel (including private cars) and
office furniture. According to HS2’s annual accounts, fees for
its board members also cost £324,000 per year, despite meeting
only once per month. Harry Fone has committed to refuse the
chair’s annual £200,000 remuneration.
Having long campaigned for HS2 to be scrapped, the latest
estimates show the project could cost taxpayers close to £170
billion. The campaign organisation is using this media stunt to
call on ministers to end the wasteful status quo and get costs
under control.
CLICK HERE
TO READ HARRY’S COVERING LETTER
Examples of HS2 waste:
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TPA FOIs revealed HS2 spent over £2.5 million on various
business expenses in 2019.
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Travel expenses were £2.5 million, including over £64,000 on
private cars. It means the cost of business travel was almost
£50,000 a week.
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Furnishing HS2 offices cost over £130,000 that same year -
more than double the cost of furniture in 2018.
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HS2 Ltd’s annual accounts reveal that fees for HS2 board
members totalled £324,000 in 2019-20. Former chair Allan Cook
received the majority at £266,770.
Harry Fone, candidate for chair of HS2 Ltd
and grassroots campaign manager at the TaxPayers' Alliance,
said:
"It’s clear that HS2 bosses have long embarked on a wasteful
spending binge.
“My first act as chair would be to cut back unnecessary expenses
before terminating the project, in the interests of British
taxpayers.
“HS2 must be stopped before it comes off the rails.”
