HS2 review criticised by outgoing deputy chair

The deputy chair of the independent review of HS2 has fired a parting shot into the probe.

Lord Berkeley, who was appointed second-in-command of the review being led by Doug Oakervee, has gone public with his criticism of how it is being carried out.

In a tweet, Berkeley, who has been a vocal critic of the £56bn project, said his role had come to an end despite the investigation not being completed.

He said: "My role as dep [deputy] chair of the Oakervee Report on HS2 finished yesterday. Report not finished and no opportunity to influence conclusions."

In the tweet, which was published on Saturday, Berkeley said the details of the review were unlikely to be revealed until after the  general election on 12 December.

My role as dep chair of the Oakervee Report on HS2 finished yesterday. Report not finished and no opportunity to influence conclusions. We are told that, when completed by Doug O and the DfT secretariat, it will be locked into the DfT vaults for the new S of S to publish.

— tony berkeley (@tonyberkeley1) November 2, 2019

Berkeley said: "We are told that, when completed by Doug O [Oakervee] and the DfT [Department for Transport] secretariat, it will be locked into the DfT vaults for the new S of S [secretary of state] to publish."

Last month Paul Maynard, who was made HS2 minister in Boris Johnson’s summer cabinet reshuffle, told MPs the uncertainty around HS2 was set to drag on, revealing he did not know when the review will be finished.

Maynard said: “There is no time limit on Mr Oakervee’s findings, and he will report when he is ready to do so.”

The review had originally been due to land on the desk of current transport secretary Grant Shapps later this month.