As an independent project risk analyst I worked on multiple major projects around the world. Inevitably this led me to the HS2 high-speed rail project, regarded as the largest infrastructure project in Europe. What I found led me to speak out as a ‘whistleblower’ — first internally and then publicly — about serious failures in forecasting, governance and public communication. This page brings together my commentary, analysis, and published writing on HS2 — its history, its failures, and what it tells us about how major infrastructure projects are governed in the UK.

My ‘whistleblowing’ attracted significant media attention and I have been cited in parliamentary forums, national press coverage, and broadcast media. I am not keen on the term ‘whistleblowing’ as it was more of a rising crescendo; I first raised my concerns with HS2 managers verbally, then in writing, then with the HS2 internal fraud team, then my MP, then the National Audit Office and the Serious Fraud Office before agreeing to take part in the Sunday Times Investigation.

My HS2 Articles & Commentary

The articles below focus specifically on HS2 — from the original business case through to the project’s partial cancellation and the questions that remain unanswered.

• Reassessing HS2: Is the London to Birmingham Route Still Viable?
• HS2: Was the UK Parliament misled about costs?
• HS2: Sunday Times Investigation
• HS2 Risk Director Discusses Playing with Numbers
• Value for Money: How does HS2 compare?

Related Commentary

These articles cover broader themes in infrastructure, value for money, and major project governance — including a three-part series on Crossrail, which shares many of the same cost and governance challenges as HS2.

• The High Cost of Misrepresentation in Project Management
• Crossrail – Should we be cross? Part 1
• Crossrail – Should we be cross? Part 2
• Crossrail – Should we be cross? Part 3
• Vulnerable Probabilities
• Solutions – ‘Citizen Panels’ for Major Projects
• Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games Cancellation
• BBC Tomorrow’s World – Review of the 1970’s

Media Coverage

My ‘adventures’ with HS2 has been covered by national and regional media including The Sunday Times, The Observer and The Daily Telegraph.

• The Daily Telegraph – Interview: “I was sacked for blowing the whistle on HS2”
• The Sunday Times – Investigation: HS2 billion-pound cover-up
• City AM – HS2 regrets failure to protect key whistleblower who raised cost concerns
• France TV – Video interview
• The Observer / Slow Newscast – Signal Failure: Who Killed HS2? (also on Spotify)
• The Story / Times Radio – Exposing a multibillion-pound cover-up at HS2 (also on Spotify)

Public Accounts Committee

My whistleblowing was cited in the oral evidence session transcript (Q55) in response to the Sunday Times investigation. More to follow in a separate blog post.