Rail consensus crashes as Tories back out of Midlands plan

Friday, 19 February 2010 12:00 AM

By politics.co.uk staff

The cross-party consensus on a high-speed rail network appears to have fallen apart today after the Tories withdrew their support for a 200mph London-to-Birmingham route.

The Conservatives are reportedly concerned about the effect the likely route could have on voters in the home counties and West Midlands, and especially the Tory heartland of Buckinghamshire.

Theresa Villiers, shadow transport secretary, is said in the Guardian to have rejected offers to see the white paper in high-speed rail, due to be published next month.

"We are not going to give a political blank cheque to Labour," she told the newspaper.

"We would not want to close down debate on a route before the people affected by it have the chance to be heard. It would be very unfair for the people affected if they thought there was a cosy political consensus on the route."

The government insists communities will be consulted before any route is finalised.

Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Norman Baker said: "This stance taken by the Tories clearly suggests that they're rowing back from their commitment on high-speed rail.

"Seeing the document doesn't commit any party to a particular line, but it is a useful way of learning what's on the table and informs the debate.

"This peculiar decision of the Tories coupled with Osborne's spending cuts strongly suggest that the Tories are trying to kick high-speed rail into the long grass."

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