Polls asking about HS2 repeatedly give the same answer: most people think HS2 is a bad idea and a waste of taxpayers money. What’s more many people on route are concerned about whether their MP is doing enough about it. Here’s what Mike Haville has to say about his MP:
Jeremy Wright MP – Is he representing his constituents?
The definition of an MP is a person elected by the people to represent the views of his constituency. Jeremy Wright has been elected by the voters of the Southam and Kenilworth constituency to represent their views. The views of constituency are clear with regard to HS2, with an estimated 80% of his constituency against it, along with over half the country and Mr Wright claims over 50% of his constituency work is HS2 related. But in this, world major decisions are not made in leafy Warwickshire, but in Westminster driven by the National media.
So has Mr Wright been striving on our behalf, when he is out of site in Westminster, well in truth, no. He has not voted against HS2, he has not spoken against HS2 and he has not written any articles in the National media against HS2.
His reasons for inaction, well they vary. He has said that as a Minister, he cannot vote against government policy, but his old boss Patrick McLoughlin stated publicly that he would expect any MP with HS2 going through their constituency to oppose it. He has also said that as a Minister, he would have more access to other Ministers and MP’s, but he does not deny that in 4 years, he has not brought any MP’s across to the Stop HS2 cause. He has also said that speaking out through the media would not do any good as other MP’s have had no success. He laughably claims that he has been doing a lot of work ‘passing on letters / escorting groups to the Transport Ministry’, if this is the total of his ‘hard work’, might I suggest, that he could be replaced with a book of stamps and a sat nav.
For the last four years, whilst his constituents have been relying on Mr Wright to represent them against HS2 at Westminster, he has kept his head down, toed the party line and quietly been promoted from party whip to junior justice minister and now to the heady heights of Attorney General.
Mr Wright in my opinion, your performance in Westminster, representing your constituent’s views on HS2, has been well short of what might be expected. HS2 cuts through the length of your constituency and thousands of people will be affected, if it goes through, before during and after it’s construction. With blight, up to 30% loss of property value, road closures, delays and at the end of it, all we will be left with is a scar on the landscape, that will be absolutely no use to the people of mid Warwickshire. With the government ignoring all reasonable arguments against HS2 from numerous respectable sources and refusing to answer questions to justify its case, the only way this government seems to be swayed, is by national media opinion and in that your contribution to the Stop HS2 cause would appear to be near zero. With an upcoming election, it would seem that if your dire performance on HS2 is made generally known in Mid Warwickshire, your chances of re-election, even in a conservative stronghold area, would seem slim.
Well Jezza, as they say ‘You can fool some of the people ….’.
The question that might be asked of Jeremy Wright is … What is more important, your career or your constituents ? Whilst I do have some ( limited ) sympathy for his dilemma the answer was never in any doubt. Mr Wright has put his career first.
HS2 is a source of embarrassment and he seeks to avoid talking about it whenever he can.
Witness the 4 page glossy paper that is currently being put through constituency doors in Kenilworth and Southam. In the thousands of words in that document there is just one passing reference to HS2, the biggest single issue to hit the area in a generation.
Local opponents might like to know there is a forthcoming “Question Time” election husting at Kenilworth School !
You have confirmed that MP’s do not necessarily do what their constituents want BUT follow the party line with the ‘fear’ they will be
replaced as a candidate for the next election!
I am standing as an INDEPENDENT for the Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency, my main objective is STOPHS2! The ‘safe’ Conservative candidate Boris Johnson is NOT OPPOSED TO HS2 but appeasing local constituents with ‘tunnels!’
I DONT BELIEVE THE SPIRALLING COST JUSTIFIES HS/2 Phase one and phase 2!
IF ALL CONSTITUENCIES WHO ARE AFFECTED BY AND OPPOSED TO THIS COMPLETE WASTE OF RATEPAYERS MONEY, PUT FORWARD AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE – THE DEPOSIT OF £500 WILL NOT BE LOST IF THEY GAIN ENOUGH VOTES – CONSERVATIVE, LABOUR AND LIBDEMS WILL HAVE TO TAKE THE PEOPLES VIEWS SERIOUSLY AND NOT IGNORE US!
I had always supposed, Jennifer, that Brother Boris was not entirely convinced about the virtues of HS2; I know that his father has spoken strongly against the whole thing.
I imagine that Boris wishes to copy the example of East London, where the original intention for the Channel Tunnel Link, HS1, was that it would emerge at Stratford and then run on the surface eastwards until Rainham where it dives down under the Thames.
However, so as to protect the interests of the thousands of people living in the areas of Forest Gate, South Ilford and Barking , several miles of expensive tunnels were substituted. The trains now emerge from the tunnels at the edge of the built up area, so that the services can operate ‘out of sight ‘out of mind’ through these eastern districts.
Mr Johnson seems to be trying to insist on something similar for the Hillingdon and Uxbridge areas ,
You would seem to disagree.
Been near Kenilworth today to view a hard working farmer’s pride & joy series one Landrover project who’s land will be er, enriched by the the economic benefits HS2 will bring to the local economy.
Needless to say Jezza, I don’t think he’ll be wearing a blue rosette this year,but then you won’t have to fret as your
cast iron Member at the Trough’s pension is assured.
hear hear.I willn not vote for him .
It will be difficult to positively vote against established patterns. Greece was driven by desparation to try and mitigate the austerity.
The Parties appear to a voter to be offering the moon for a song and that there is no limits to the UKs impact on the globe and its populations fortunes.
People know it is not like this after the voting but back to the little influence for outsiders.
Power in Politics is with few MPs and Civil Servants. Outgoing MPs meet in place Civil Servants. The UK democratic process is failing the nations population for over 20 years and unless the population uses crowd voting to change the patterns signficantly the few marginals will drop the UK back in the current position. Labour ducked the change of leader and this is not inspiring. Conservatives aim to hammer home its HS2 steamroller delivery against the interests of many along the current route. Voting against incumbents is possibly the only credible step to make the point for people power when there is consensus locally. Nothing is lost by changing an incumbent but the MP in the constituency will possibly change if constituent crowd voting was to displace Cameron, Clegg and Miliband and those in their parties who have been least effective along the route and that is a majority of the MPs along the route and adjacent to the routes. Try crowd voting for change and use social media to challenge the party’s approach that your interests are minimal to theirs.