On a good day to slip out written ministerial statements, the transport secretary Chris Grayling has revealed that the cost of the troubled Crossrail programme has risen again.
Works on track and stations on the overground section to the west of London, carried out by Network Rail, have now run another £210m over budget since an update in 2018, bringing the total cost to date to more than £17.8bn.
Grayling said the cost would be met from internal Network Rail budgets – although as it is a state-owned body, it remains effectively taxpayers’ money.
News of the confirmed cost overruns in Network Rail’s relatively small portion of Crossrail work – now more than 20% over its own allotted £2.3bn Crossrail budget – will fuel fears aired by the Public Accounts Committee that the delayed rail line could end up costing substantially more yet. Network Rail said the additional time taken to deliver the project was to blame.
Merkel congratulates Johnson and says she wants UK and Germany to be ‘close friends’ in future
This is from Ulrike Demmer, deputy spokeswoman from the German government.
Ulrike Demmer
(@UlrikeDemmer)Kanzlerin #Merkel zur Wahl von Boris #Johnson: Ich gratuliere Boris Johnson und freue mich auf eine gute Zusammenarbeit. Unsere Länder soll auch in Zukunft eine enge Freundschaft verbinden.
It says:
Chancellor #Merkel on the selection of Boris #Johnson: I congratulate Boris Johnson and am looking forward to good cooperation. Our countries should also be close friends in future.
Tory moderates welcome appointment of Mark Spencer as Boris Johnson’s chief whip
Mark Spencer will be Boris Johnson’s chief whip. Spencer is not exactly well known to the Westminster press corps – there has been a lot of Googling going on this afternoon – but his appointment has been welcomed by MPs from the mainstream of the party.
From Sir Nicholas Soames
Nicholas Soames
(@NSoames)Absolutely delighted to hear of the appointment of Mark Spencer as Chief Whip . A really excellent sane and wise choice #areallygoodman
From George Freeman
George Freeman MP
(@GeorgeFreemanMP)Great first appointment by @BorisJohnson as @Mark_Spencer becomes Chief Whip. Smart pick. A hugely respected Colleague who will provide a reliable anchor to the new Government in inevitably stormy seas. https://t.co/SUB6UcLUnh
From Caroline Nokes
Caroline Nokes
(@carolinenokes)I am delighted for @Mark_Spencer on his appointment as the new Chief Whip, a great friend and a fantastic sense of humour.
This is from Nick Boles, who was a centrist Tory until he left the party to sit as an independent.
Nick Boles MP
(@NickBoles)Mark Spencer is one of the nicest people in the Conservative Parliamentary Party. Firm, fair, with his feet planted firmly on the ground. And he makes great pies! https://t.co/pHHUYRTDlq
And here is some comment on the appointment from journalists.
From ITV’s Robert Peston
Robert Peston
(@Peston)It is striking that @BorisJohnson‘s first appointment – to the life-or-death post of chief whip – is a remainer, Mark Spencer. Tory MPs tell me Spencer is likeable and clubbable however. So maybe this is a conciliatory unifying gesture by Johnson. Or maybe it will…
Robert Peston
(@Peston)will upset the many ERG true Brexiters without whose support Johnson could never have won. Is this the Great Tory Fightback or the Great Johnson Betrayal?
From the Times’ Francis Elliott
Francis Elliott
(@elliotttimes)Mark Spencer is the new chief whip. Interesting choice. A whips’ whip. Welcomed by Hunt backers.
From the Sun’s Tom Newton Dunn
Tom Newton Dunn
(@tnewtondunn)Confirmed: Boris has made the first appointment to his Cabinet – his Chief Whip will be Mark Spencer. A little known but well-liked backroom operator (original ht @MrHarryCole)
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