• Disrupting Power Since 2015
  • Donate
  • Login
Thursday, May 15, 2025
  • Login
  • Register
Canary
MEDIA THAT DISRUPTS
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION
SUPPORT
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
Canary
No Result
View All Result

Prime Minister expected to split Tories by giving green light to HS2

The Canary by The Canary
11 February 2020
in Environment, News, Other News & Features, UK
Reading Time: 4 mins read
165 7
A A
0
Home Other News & Features Environment
319
SHARES
2.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Boris Johnson is expected to confirm HS2 will go ahead on Tuesday, causing splits in the Conservative Party over cost and environmental concerns.

The controversial high-speed railway scheme is likely to be discussed at a cabinet meeting in the morning, before the prime minister makes a statement on the project.

It has been reported that Johnson will give the green light for Phase 1 between London and Birmingham, but will say more analysis is needed on the cost of the route extending further north to Manchester and Leeds.

High-speed trains will also run beyond the new lines on existing tracks as far as Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Conservative MPs in seats along the route south of Birmingham are among those who are angry over HS2’s cost and impact on the environment.

HS2 critic and Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant described the expected announcement as “very disappointing” and warned HS2 will cause “immense” damage to the countryside.

The Tory benches erupted into shouts of “No” when Johnson was asked if he agreed that HS2 should go ahead during Prime Minister’s Questions last month.

Johnson’s most senior adviser, Dominic Cummings, is said to be in favour of scrapping the scheme.

HS2 Ltd – the Government-owned company responsible for developing and building the railway – says it will boost capacity and cut journey times.

Former HS2 Ltd chairman Douglas Oakervee was commissioned by the government in August 2019 to lead a review into whether or not the programme should be scrapped amid rising costs and delays.

HS2 Protest
HS2 protesters in the trees at a camp in the Colne Valley park, near Uxbridge (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

It has been widely leaked that the review found HS2 could cost up to £106 billion, but concluded that “on balance” it should continue.

HS2’s original budget was £32.7 billion at 2011 prices.

It was due to open in December 2026, but HS2 Ltd chair Allan Cook said last year it would be “prudent to plan for an opening between 2028 and 2031”.

Last month, Whitehall’s spending watchdog said the scheme is over budget and behind schedule because its complexity and risks were under-estimated.

The National Audit Office warned that it is impossible to “estimate with certainty” what the final cost could be.

HS2 has been the subject of years of intensive lobbying from politicians and opposition groups.

At the @cop26 launch @BorisJohnson said ‘We must reverse the appalling loss of habitats and species, it’s only by repairing the damage to the natural world that we can address the problem of climate change’ Yet by approving HS2 he continues the war on nature . pic.twitter.com/QYPPkdcUF9

— Chris Packham (@ChrisGPackham) February 11, 2020

Several environmental organisations claim building it will cause huge damage to natural habitats, including dozens of ancient woodlands.

Communities living on or near the route have expressed anger at the impact on their lives, while many people have said the project is simply too expensive and the money would be better spent elsewhere.

Labour’s shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald claimed HS2 has been “appallingly mismanaged” by the Conservative Party.

He called for the high-speed railway to be integrated with Crossrail for the North – a proposed boost for rail services between Liverpool and Hull – and eventually extend high-speed lines to Scotland to “remove the need for domestic flights”.

Share128Tweet80
Previous Post

The left has just smashed the 100-year conservative domination of Irish politics

Next Post

Brussels chief ‘surprised’ at Boris Johnson’s Brexit stance

Next Post

Brussels chief ‘surprised’ at Boris Johnson’s Brexit stance

Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg

Bernie Sanders nails the big problem with his main rival in the Democratic election

Mary Lou McDonald, Nigel Farage & Donald Trump

A journalist compared the rise of the Irish left to a rise in nationalism and got it badly wrong

Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman

Maryland unveils statues of abolitionists Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass

A black and white graveyard and the DWP logo

A 'secret' DWP deaths inquiry just turned into a farce

Please login to join discussion
The British Museum just held an event with the Israeli embassy - and the Met police responded by repressing Palestine protesters
News

British Museum holds event with the Israeli embassy – so Met Police respond by repressing Palestine protesters

by The Canary
14 May 2025
EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer's in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London
Analysis

EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer’s in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London

by Ed Sykes
14 May 2025
People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour's DWP benefit cuts
News

People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour’s DWP benefit cuts

by The Canary
14 May 2025
Keir Starmer's 'Island of Strangers' speech: channeling the racist rhetoric of Enoch Powell
Opinion

Is Keir Starmer capable of killing?

by Jamie Driscoll
14 May 2025
As an ACTUAL GENOCIDE continues, its apologists come for Gary Lineker over an emoji
Opinion

As an ACTUAL GENOCIDE continues, its apologists come for Gary Lineker over an emoji

by Ed Sykes
14 May 2025
  • Contact
  • About & FAQ
  • Get our Daily News Email
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

The Canary
PO Box 71199
LONDON
SE20 9EX

Canary Media Ltd – registered in England. Company registration number 09788095.

For guest posting, contact [email protected]

For other enquiries, contact: [email protected]

The Canary is owned and run by independent journalists and volunteers, NOT offshore billionaires.

You can write for us, or support us by making a regular or one-off donation.

© Canary Media Ltd 2024, all rights reserved | Website by Monster | Hosted by Krystal | Privacy Settings

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion

© 2023 Canary - Worker's co-op.

Before you go, have you seen...?

The British Museum just held an event with the Israeli embassy - and the Met police responded by repressing Palestine protesters
News
The Canary

British Museum holds event with the Israeli embassy – so Met Police respond by repressing Palestine protesters

EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer's in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London
Analysis
Ed Sykes

EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer’s in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London

People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour's DWP benefit cuts
News
The Canary

People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour’s DWP benefit cuts

Keir Starmer's 'Island of Strangers' speech: channeling the racist rhetoric of Enoch Powell
Opinion
Jamie Driscoll

Is Keir Starmer capable of killing?

ADVERTISEMENT
Business
Nathan Spears

When digital isn’t enough: why paper still matters in modern business

Tech
Nathan Spears

How Digital Addictions Are Formed in the Shadow of Large Platforms

Lifestyle
Nathan Spears

Recovery in the Sun: How the Canary Islands are Becoming a Wellness Tourism Hub