Mirror readers support Sunak’s plans to scrap HS2 to Manchester - poll results
Rishi Sunak announced last week that the northern leg of HS2 to Manchester has been scrapped after weeks of speculation - and we asked Mirror readers what they thought of the news.
Speaking at the Tory Party Conference in Manchester, the PM said the move would free up £36bn and the funds would be spent on "hundreds of new transport projects in the North and the Midlands, and across the country". The decision comes after the Leeds leg had already been dismissed, and now all lines beyond Birmingham have been axed.
Mr Sunak said: "I say, to those who backed the project in the first place, the facts have changed. And the right thing to do when the facts change, is to have the courage to change direction. So I am ending this long-running saga. I am cancelling the rest of the HS2 project."
We asked Mirror readers if they think the PM should have shelved the northern leg of HS2 to Manchester, and 50 percent of respondents said 'Yes'. Around 3,750 people took part in our poll, and a hefty 1,888 believe the high speed rail service should have been cut.
Voicing their opinions in the comments section, one reader wrote: “I agree with him for cancelling it costing so much money and overspend when it can be used for a lot of other things and not just part of the country. I live rurally and our trains are useless but I don’t worry as I don’t use them and can see the money spent better elsewhere.”
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Another said: “If the PM makes the promise that any money saved by shortening the route of HS2 is used for improving the rail services in the north then I am OK with this. This is called levelling up. But he must honour that promise.”
A third stated: “The money is not the governments or big business it is yours and mine as tax payers. It as been a con for a long time but at least with the PM and Braverman we have people who are standing for the people and Tax payers of this country."
A forth wrote: “Good decision to scrap,” while a fifth echoed: “Good for Sunak to have the courage to put a stop to the 2nd phase, common sense has prevailed. Our Country is 2.9 Billion pounds in debt.”
Meanwhile, 46 percent voted ‘No’ in our poll, with one reader writing: “Tory’s promised to deliver and failed miserably they obviously never did their sums properly and Sunak was part of the chancellor's lot that cost it he couldn't run a bath never mind our country.”
A second added: “Devolution of Power to the REGIONS was promised in the last General Election but it never happened. We need to ensure it happens THIS time - allowing LOCAL Politicians the Authority to control LOCAL conditions would be a start. There IS life North of Watford Gap and the North Circular Car Park. HS2 was never going to extend beyond the distance London commuters were prepared to travel looking for cheapo housing - the North of England can do better.”
“Should have consulted the people most affected. Pity they didn't start in the north and head south. Londoners are well served already,” another wrote, while a fourth said: “It's a sad time for those who lost properties, land and livelihoods [farms etc.], which had been in families for a few generations. It has been so long in the process, what a waste of time and money for nothing.”
A fifth added: "After all the money that has been spent on it thus far, and the huge disruption and environmental damage caused, now that the wretched project has got this far it ought to be completed in full. It's the Northern section that's going to contribute far more benefit to the country's economy than being able to get to Birmingham 20 minutes quicker from London than present!"
Around four percent selected the option ‘Other’, with many branding the HS2 project a “white elephant”. Taking to the comments, one person wrote: “HS2 was always going to be a white elephant and a money pit . It was a project that was never clearly thought through and it was drawn up by people sat behind desks in a London office.”
“None of this extravagant white elephant should have been built,” expressed another, while a third shared: “HS2 was always a huge white elephant from the beginning, taking far too long to be commenced, and far too long to be completed. We also all knew that the original budget figures were massively under-cooked (deliberately or otherwise) because everything this government undertakes follows exactly the same path.”
Please note that the poll is still live, so these results may change after the article has been published.
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You can still vote in the poll to have your say on the HS2 project. Do you think the HS2 to Manchester should have been scrapped? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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