MP in bid to lead Commons revolt against HS2 rail plan

MP Geoffrey Robinson is seeking to lead a Commons revolt against the £32 billion HS2 rail plan.



The former Labour Treasury minister is determined to break a cross-party consensus at Westminster that the planned 250mph rail link between London, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester is necessary to meet future demand for transport, and will be good for the economy.

Mr Robinson argues the government has got its sums wrong, and the Treasury should scrap the project.

He has now secured a six-hour debate in the House of Commons on March 27, using a process in which backbench MPs can bid for a debate on a subject of their choice.

Mr Robinson believes many MPs will vote against once the government’s case is properly examined.

It follows transport secretary Philip Hammond’s visit to the West Midlands on Monday to launch a five-month public consultation.

Protesters in Warwickshire lit fires along the planned route which would tear through countryside and blight homes.

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