Johnson: the Government must ‘keep digging’ on HS2

There have been calls from Conservative MPs to scrap the high-speed line linking London to the Midlands and the North after costs ballooned, with some predicting the final price tag could rise to more than £100 billion. “In a hole the size of HS2, the only thing to do is keep digging.” It comes after Chancellor Sajid Javid looked to have thrown his weight behind the high speed line, which advocates say would provide much-needed capacity on Britain’s railways. Mr Javid met with the PM and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps on Thursday, with those close to the Chancellor suggesting he was minded to back the scheme. The PA news agency understands that, having reviewed costs and alternatives, the Chancellor, who represents a Midlands constituency, was set to “broadly back” the high-speed line from London to Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. But Mr Johnson appears to be softening on his resolve following his most recent comments, with some £8 billion already spent on the scheme.