On the 15th September it was announced that the Backbench Business Committee, the committee which has been given the powers to decide if Government e-petitions get a debate in Parliament has granted a debate on HS2, the proposed high speed railway for 13th October. Stop HS2 had got 100,000 signatures on petitions prior to the new e-petition website being launched in August.
The debate has been secured following continual lobbying of the committee by various MPs, including North Warwickshire MP, Dan Byles.
Dan said; “I am delighted that my efforts and those of my colleagues have been successful in securing this very important debate. We have debated High Speed Rail in Westminster Hall before, but I have long argued that this issue is so important that it requires an urgent debate in the main chamber. We now have that, and I will be using the opportunity to highlight my strong concerns, and those of many of my constituents, that the business case for HS2 simply does not stand up to scrutiny and the project does not represent value for money.”
“This debate also represents an opportunity to raise awareness among MPs from parts of the country not directly affected by the line, of the shortcomings of HS2 and the flaws in the business case. Every household in the country will be paying for this project, so it is extremely important that we widen the discussion to include all MPs and not just those with constituencies on the line.”
Stop HS2 Campaign Coordinator Joe Rukin said;
“This small but highly significant victory. In terms of getting the debate, in the last month we thought we were there, then had it taken away from us, and now we have won. This is absolutely fantastic news and a real spur at what is turning into an extremely busy time for the campaign. We will have a presence at the three main parties’ conferences, so will have been able to talk to far more MPs off the route about the problems with HS2 before this debate takes places. HS2 is a massively important issue and it is about time it is debated properly. Although the debate has now been secured, we are still calling on everyone who signed the original petition to sign this one as the higher the number of signatures, the more politicians will realise how significant this issue is.”
“It is now essential that everyone who is concerned about HS2, especially those who live off the route contact their MP explaining their opposition to HS2. A tool to assist people with this can be found at www.highspeedrail.org.uk”
Notes to Editors:
For more information contact Joe Rukin on 07811 371880 or Penny Gaines on 07765 780553.
People can sign the petition against HS2 here
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This is fantastic news!
Do we know when the debate is scheduled to take place?
We must all write to our local MPs to encourage them to take part and voice our opinion.
Most importantly, don’t forget to make the case for Maglev in your letter.
Future technologies have not been considered by the government, despite HS2 + expected to take many decades to complete!
HS2 is a new project being built with an out-dated an high maintenance out-dated technology.
As HS2 is government policy, MPs who have government positions will keep to the party line. For those of us who have such MPs, who should we contact? Which MPs are leading the challenge to the HS2 proposals?
Hi Paul
HS2 action alliance have a list (http://www.hs2actionalliance.org/)
How wonderful Gary, that you are still so for this project that the tax payer alliance says will cost an extra 28 billion of our money, to cover the extra improvements.You must be one of the rich that will be able to afford it.You certainly dont see yourself as a worker who won’t.I do not believe that there are far more MPs for than against, and the e petition numbers for are around 400, so you havent many friends to join you.
both the petitions against are growing well.
Not sure whats been won here……all MPs are aware of HS2 anyway. Of course the number of MPs in areas which will DIRECTLY benefit from High Speed Rail far outnumber those that dont. Once completed , the big conurbations of London , Birmingham. Manchester, Leeds etc….will all be within 1 hour of each other by rail. Its a huge step change in the connectivity of the major economic drivers of the UK. It also has the personal backing of the Prime Minister, and as of now, the Treasury.
……That only a privileged minority will be able to afford to use.
Journey can be made in milliseconds with fibre optic cables…….railway is old technology, get up to date