In the last week, both Lord (Nigel) Lawson and Alistair Darling, two former Chancellors of the Exchequer have reiterated their opposition to HS2, suggesting the cuts to Network Rail projects are as a direct result of spending on HS2.
What Alistair Darling warned would happen two years ago. I believe the correct phrase now would be “I told you so!”.
We’ve not only put together those clips, but added some from when the pair first came out against HS2.
Besides holding the post of Chancellor, Darling had previously been Secretary of State for Transport, and as such he warned back then that if so much money went on HS2, there wouldn’t be the money for the rest of the rail network.
These words from almost two years ago now seem extremely prophetic, given the recent ‘pausing’ of Network Rail projects.
A case of deception to pretend that a magic wand exists for problems. Benn and others tried with Concord and Railtrack pretended with WCML and stopped short of Scotland. ECML never got upgraded and Midland Mainline scuppered by the Government. The DFT is in shambolic disarray with no plans only expensive aspirations. Smart motorways really. No hardshoulder forget safety first. Stonehenge still in constant two way delay. HS2 not considered suitable for the real problems. Inward investment regardless of operational value for the public. Danger is a Cameron and Osborne strategy from Chequers tete a tete but millions of non-British people on welfare from the UK tax payers and hundreds of thousands sending money overseas. Ex-Chancellors wise to the slights of hand and Peter to Paul methods. Time for the UK to take a reality check and accept the tube, rail and road needs are now and very real and not solved by HS2 across the Counties for near to one hundred billions of pounds the UK does not have.