HS2 naysayers betraying everyone north of Watford – Cameron

IN A hard hitting defence of HS2, Prime Minister David Cameron will tell the CBI annual conference that dithering over the high-speed rail project will condemn Britain to the slow lane.

He will say that those who want to delay or obstruct HS2 show a lack of vision and are playing politics with Britain’s prosperity.  “They are betraying everyone north of Watford,” he will say.

According to the BBC, the Prime Minister is also planning to ask the new boss of HS2 rail link, Sir David Higgins, to find ways to cut the cost of the scheme which is currently estimated at £50bn (including rolling stock).

MPs last week approved funding to prepare for HS2.

In his speech to the CBI, Mr Cameron will say: “Britain is in a global race for jobs and wealth. Our infrastructure is decades out of date and we urgently need to invest and build.

“I ask everyone across politics to put their own interests aside – and put the national interest first.”

The Labour Party has said it will not give the Government a blank cheque for HS2.

HS2 will link Birmingham and London via 225mph train from 2026 and create equally fast links to Leeds and Manchester six years later.

Work is due to start on the project in 2016.