High Speed Rail 2 Debate  

This Thursday will see the first debate in the chamber of the House of Commons on High Speed Rail 2. This follows the handing in of a petition of 108,000 signatures opposing the scheme, by campaigners and politicians, including myself, into Downing Street. While the consultation process has now finished, there has been a growing awareness around the country not only of the scale of the project but also of its potential costs. Newspapers such as the Financial Times, The Daily Telegraph and the Economist have stated their opposition as well as respected organisations such as the Taxpayer's Alliance, the Institute of Economic Affairs, the Adam Smith Institute and the National Trust. The longer the debate has continued, the stronger the opposition has become. Alongside colleagues, I will be seeking to make clear to the Government that there is time to reconsider this policy. While all sides...