A whistleblower who was fired after accusing HS2 bosses of fraud after they ignored his warnings over the true cost of the project has won more than 300,000 in compensation.
Stephen Cresswell, a risk management expert, lost his job working on the high-speed rail line after he repeatedly raised concerns that costs were being “actively misrepresented”.
The consultant was told by one HS2 executive to “disregard” scenarios he had prepared which forecast a “significant” increase in the cost of building the railway line, an employment tribunal in Croydon heard.
In one case, a forecast construction cost was potentially 100 million larger than bosses wanted to admit, the tribunal heard.
Mark Wild, HS2’s chief executive, told MPs last month that the final cost of the London-to-Birmingham route could exceed 100 billion.
After HS2 eventually admitted Mr Cresswell had attempted to blow the whistle on five separate occasions during 2021 and 2022 before being let go, he was awarded 319,070 in damages.
“In my opinion, HS2 is not an organisation that should be trusted with public money,” Mr Cresswell said after the employment tribunal’s ruling on Monday.
“HS2 is destroying taxpayer value; a properly functioning administration would mothball the programme and undertake a full independent investigation,” he added.
Mr Cresswell’s contract was terminated on Sept 30 2022 after he tried to inform senior managers about what was going on.
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