Week Ending: Osborne won’t sing for The Hitman; Lanway boss is a rock and roll star; the 9,000-space car park

CHANCELLOR George Osborne was in relaxed and convivial mood at a private lunch at The Mere in his Tatton constituency last week.

Clearly pleased with the GDP figures which had been released earlier, Osborne, quipped that he had been ready to “sing for his supper” – until realising he was seated next to The Hitman – Pete Waterman, the Cheshire-based music producer railway enthusiast and Cheshire LEP member.

Despite declining to share his singing talents in such distinguished company, Osborne – who I was informed by a fellow guest is actually called Gideon George – covered a wide range in topics on a brief overview.

He stated his support for the controversial and divisive High Speed 2 project – and said his constituency was more affected by the route than any other in the country.

While sympathising with residents in places like High Legh, he said the new line is needed to tackle capacity issues on the West Coast mainline and to address the economic imbalance between north and south.

He said opposition to new rail lines in Cheshire was hardly a new phenomena and cited Elizabeth Gaskell’s 19th Century novel ‘Cranford’ (widely believed to be modelled on Knutsford) – where one of the storylines is about efforts to stop the new railway.