Apologies for the oversight in safeguarding a pivotal whistleblower who disclosed budgetary worries regarding HS2.
High Speed 2 (HS2) project faces scrutiny after admitting partial liability in a case of unfair dismissal against a key whistleblower, Stephen Cresswell. As a former senior cost analyst, Cresswell was pushed out of the project following claims that staff artificially suppressed cost estimates to appease the government.
City AM reports that Cresswell will receive a substantial compensation payout. The exact settlement amount has not been disclosed, but taxpayers will cover the costs. This instance marks the first win for a whistleblower challenging HS2 in court.
HS2 Ltd. expressed regret over Cresswell's treatment, acknowledging that he was not provided the necessary protection as a whistleblower when his contract ended in 2022. However, the company stopped short of accepting his specific allegations regarding cost estimation practices. They maintain that no criminal activity transpired in relation to Cresswell's accusations.
A spokesperson revealed that the company is now under new leadership and is undergoing a comprehensive review of its skills and structures.
HS2 has faced numerous damning allegations from whistleblowers in recent years, with costs skyrocketing to as much as £100 billion. The allegations range from outright fraud to claims that employees voicing concerns internally were dismissed without sufficient explanation.
In an interview with the Sunday Times in 2023, Cresswell asserted that HS2 deployed a "classic playbook" on major taxpayer-funded construction projects, withholding accurate cost predictions to ensure continuous government funding.
Allegedly, Cresswell was ordered by senior officials to downplay the costs of the abandoned Birmingham to Leeds route. "I'm pleased that the employment tribunal process has concluded. In my opinion, HS2 is not an organization that should be entrusted with public money," Cresswell stated.
HS2's new chief executive, Mark Wild, has vowed to enact a "fundamental reset" of the project and is currently overseeing a full review of costs and schedules.
Over the weekend, it was unveiled that HS2 Ltd had suspended a sub-contractor on the West Midlands section amid an investigation into "large-scale" tax fraud allegations.
A DfT spokesperson stated, "We take all whistleblowing allegations seriously and it is essential that individuals are given the appropriate levels of protection, which clearly was not the case for Mr. Cresswell." The spokesperson emphasized the need to get the project back on track and review the programme's costs, schedule, and culture.
- The partial liability admitted by HS2 in the case of unfair dismissal against whistleblower Stephen Cresswell has brought the High Speed 2 (HS2) project under scrutiny, especially in the general news and politics sections.
- In addition to the ongoing case, HS2 has faced numerous damning allegations in the business and industry sectors, including claims of outright fraud, suppressed cost estimates, and dismissals of whistleblowers.
- City AM reported that Cresswell, a former senior cost analyst, will receive a substantial compensation payout, a cost that will be covered by taxpayers, raising questions about the misuse of public funds in the transport sector.
- The new leadership at HS2, led by Mark Wild, is currently overseeing a comprehensive review of skills, structures, and finances, showing a need for change in the organization's culture and operations, particularly in the context of numerous allegations and investigations.
