Gove floats scrapping HS2

[whole diary]

[Red Squirrel]

I think you've hit the nail very squarely on the head.

[TonyK]

Hmmm. 'Local transport links in the Midlands and the North'.  When will any politician realise that there are equally large pockets of under investment in the South West. 

When there are marginal seats to be won.

Trouble is, given that it's Gove we're talking about, I suspect what he really has in mind is to scrap HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) and not spent the money on anything at all..!

The Gove cove, along with others, has to find £350 million per week from next March from somewhere.

Swindon is marginal perhaps we should push for Swindon to Didcot 4 track now!

I shall lend my name to your campaign! I was wondering what to do now Filton Bank is in the bag.

FT, N!

Personally, I feel that Gove knows that his idea of Brexit is going top lose the country so many £billions that he's trying to recoup some of these £billions and actually, when it comes down to the local investment(s), it/they won't actually happen.....

About the long and short of the matter, for sure.  That, or he's looking for a stick to beat the Prime Minister with again, before the proper time. He could buy BoJo off with postponement cancellation of the third runway at Heathrow, but he would win a few more friends with HS2, however many billions have been spent on it so far. Like new nuclear power stations, GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) electrification, Portishead railway, Channel Tunnel, and a whole lot more, it will get done one day, because it is needed, but the longer it gets put off, the more it will cost.

[Bmblbzzz]

From politicians' point of view, the longer these projects get put off, the longer their building or cancellation can be used as electoral promises. 

[ChrisB]

HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) isn't being put off - only yesterday, further progress was being made on stage 2A in parliament

[TonyK]

HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) isn't being put off - only yesterday, further progress was being made on stage 2A in parliament

More than that, shovels have hit dirt, just like at Hinkley C. It's happening, although of those two projects, HS2 is the better understood technology.

[ray951]

HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) isn't being put off - only yesterday, further progress was being made on stage 2A in parliament

More than that, shovels have hit dirt, just like at Hinkley C. It's happening, although of those two projects, HS2 is the better understood technology.

I am not convinced that HS2 will be built and just as a reminder didn't they start building the channel tunnel in 1974 and then stopped in 1975? And yes I know it was built 20 years later but that was a completely different project.
Anyway I believe that Gove is just angling to be the next leader of the Conservative Party as a lot of the party membership are against the project.

[grahame]

Anyway I believe that Gove is just angling to be the next leader of the Conservative Party as a lot of the party membership are against the project.

Or is he looking beyond that to be next Prime Minister?

[TonyK]

I am not convinced that HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) will be built and just as a reminder didn't they start building the channel tunnel in 1974 and then stopped in 1975? And yes I know it was built 20 years later but that was a completely different project.
Anyway I believe that Gove is just angling to be the next leader of the Conservative Party as a lot of the party membership are against the project.

Work on the Channel Tunnel actually began in 1875. An earlier plan, which produced an Act  of Parliament in 1802, was abandoned because of fear of Napoleon mounting an invasion.

And when the time comes, I am sure the Gove cove will reluctantly throw his hat into the ring, as soon as he has shafted BoJo.

[eightf48544]

I am not convinced that HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) will be built and just as a reminder didn't they start building the channel tunnel in 1974 and then stopped in 1975? And yes I know it was built 20 years later but that was a completely different project.

Anyway I believe that Gove is just angling to be the next leader of the Conservative Party as a lot of the party membership are against the project.

Don't forget the 1880 attempt at a channel tunnel.

[Electric train]

There is a lot of traction in the HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) project; site clearance has commenced and the project will move quickly into the digging big holes and placing structure in the ground.

A lot of jobs Nationally involved in the supply of marital, equipment, labour etc will be lost if it stops, this alone could impact on the very constituencies Gove says he would spend some money.

[TonyK]

A lot of jobs Nationally involved in the supply of marital, equipment, labour etc will be lost if it stops, this alone could impact on the very constituencies Gove says he would spend some money.

You leave my marital equipment out of this!

[Electric train]

A lot of jobs Nationally involved in the supply of marital, equipment, labour etc will be lost if it stops, this alone could impact on the very constituencies Gove says he would spend some money.

You leave my marital equipment out of this!

  I so dislike auto spell checker

[TonyK]

  I so dislike auto spell checker

I thought it was spill chucker.

[JayMac]

Well, if the oik joins the bumbling blond buffoon to oust Mrs May then HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) scale back or cancellation, along with Heathrow 3rd runway being nixed, become much more likely.

It just depends in which direction Gove decides to micturate at the campsite.

[TonyK]

It just depends in which direction Gove decides to micturate at the campsite.

My guess is all over BoJo, whether he is in the tent or not.