HS2’s value to the economy is far less than claimed, the former deputy chairman of the HS2 review has said

The cost of the high-speed rail link is “out of control”, could pass more than £100 billion and parliament has been misled about its price, the former deputy chairman of the official HS2 review has claimed.

Lord Berkeley says that the government’s Oakervee review, which has yet to be published, has shut out expert advice and that HS2’s value to the economy is far less than claimed.

He has published his own assessment, which says: “From the evidence I have seen, I believe that parliament was misled on the question of HS2 costs and that it is highly unlikely that, if it had been given the real cost figures by the Department for Transport, it would have passed the legislation to allow this project to