Post by cenydd on Sept 7, 2013 20:09:51 GMT
David Cameron is promising to fight back against an ‘unholy alliance’ attacking plans for a new high speed rail line after admitting the Government has failed to make an effective case for the project.
As ministers brace themselves for a highly critical Parliamentary report on HS2 - the biggest rail project in Britain for more than a century - the Prime Minister launched a passionate defence of it.
‘I would urge the doubters to think big and what this can mean for the country. I accept the government needs to step up and make a really powerful argument,’ said Mr Cameron, speaking at the G20 summit in St Petersburg.
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin is expected to respond to a critical report from MPs on the spiralling costs of HS2 next week with a major speech making a fresh case for the potential economic benefits.
There is also speculation that Mr Cameron may appoint a dedicated ‘minister for HS2’ in a Government reshuffle expected after next month’s Conservative party conference.
As ministers brace themselves for a highly critical Parliamentary report on HS2 - the biggest rail project in Britain for more than a century - the Prime Minister launched a passionate defence of it.
‘I would urge the doubters to think big and what this can mean for the country. I accept the government needs to step up and make a really powerful argument,’ said Mr Cameron, speaking at the G20 summit in St Petersburg.
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin is expected to respond to a critical report from MPs on the spiralling costs of HS2 next week with a major speech making a fresh case for the potential economic benefits.
There is also speculation that Mr Cameron may appoint a dedicated ‘minister for HS2’ in a Government reshuffle expected after next month’s Conservative party conference.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2414615/Cameron-pledges-fight-row-HS2-rail-plan-admits-Coalition-good-case.html
I can't say I'm convinced either way on HS2 at the moment. On the one hand, I do recognise that the UK's rail and transport systems have been falling behind competitors, and I do recognise the need for infrastructure investment generally, but on the other hand I don't buy some of the arguments that have been used to support it. Specifically, I'm not convinced about the idea that it will 'regenerate the regions', rather than drawing more economic activity away from them and towards London.