Nigel Farage has called on the Government to abandon the HS2 rail project despite £30billion already being spent on the controversial high-speed rail line.

Speaking on GB News, the Reform UK leader argued that the funds allocated to HS2 should instead be redirected towards upgrading Britain's existing rail network.

"I find it extraordinary that whether it's spending review announcements or budgets, we talk about cutting a billion here or a billion there, we rarely discuss HS2, which, of course, is costing tens of billions and forecasts to cost many tens more," Farage said.

Farage revealed he has been opposing the project since 2010, citing fundamental concerns about its viability and purpose.

Nigel Farage called to scrap HS2 completely after highlighting the project's 'extraordinary' cost

He explained his opposition stems from two key issues: the absence of private investment and what he views as a flawed economic premise.

Farage told GB News: "Let me be clear, I've been campaigning against this since 2010. All through the years, I've campaigned against it. Why?

"Well, firstly, because it was never going to get a penny of private money and I thought British Governments are bad at doing these things.

"And secondly, I thought the whole thing was based on the false premise, which was, if you have fast trains going to Birmingham, Manchester, maybe over to Leeds, that it would actually help take business to the north."

He also challenged the project's core justification, arguing that faster connections to northern cities would not boost regional economies as promised.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed the latest delay to the HS2 project on Wednesday

Drawing on international examples, he warned: "What I'd seen with the TGV in France is the opposite.

"Actually, when Marseille became three hours from Paris, not six, we saw firms relocating from Marseille to Paris."

Highlighting how Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander had laid blame on the Tories for the spiralling costs and delays to HS2, Farage said: "I've fought against it all the way through. Heidi Alexander, the responsible minister, spoke to the House of Commons and said, look, the Tories have made an absolute mess of it.

"We're going to slow the thing down, but trust us, we'll deliver it on time. So I asked her, how much had it cost to date?"

When Farage questioned Alexander about costs incurred to date, she confirmed that £30billion had already been spent on HS2.

Farage told GB News that the HS2 project was 'sold on a false premise'

Farage argued that the project should be cancelled immediately, warning of spiralling future costs: "I still think we should scrap it, because I think the final cost of this will be well over £100 - £150 billion. Goodness knows what it's going to be."

He referenced business principles, stating: "In business you say the first cut is the best cut, although there are not many people in Parliament who've ever run a business or would know what it's like to take a loss."

Farage argued that the money would deliver far greater benefits if spent on improving rail services across the country rather than on a single high-speed line.

"I think we could spend that money far better, in fact, a fraction of that money upgrading railway services all over the country, for the benefit of millions of people, as opposed to some really rather well heeled men and women going to London for the day," he concluded.