FRANK Dobson warned that MPs who vote for the HS2 bill will not be able to blame austerity for any future cuts to public services after the next election. 

 

The MP for Holborn and St Pancras was speaking at a protest of around 300 anti HS2 campaigners outside the House of Commons today (Monday).

 

He said: “MPs will have to explain to their constituents coming into their surgeries, whoever wins the general election, that there is no money for services. But at the same time they have backed £50billion being squandered on this stupid scheme. It is total madness. It is a loony, stupid scheme.”

 

“I think that the plan for Euston is crazy. I opposed it since the start for parochial reasons. Up to 500 homes will be demolished and between five and seven thousands people's homes will be made intolerable by living next to the biggest building site in Europe.”

 

While Mr Dobson is due to vote against HS2 today, his Labour colleague Glenda Jackson, MP for Hampstead and Kilburn, will vote in favour of the scheme. She told the New Journal last week that HS2 would help bridge the north south divide.

 

Mr Dobson he was in favour of boosting northern economies through investment and infrastructure, but that it would be “more sensible” to spend the money in a more targeted way.

 

He said: “It would be better to divide up the £50billion between the five northern cities and say have £10billion each – how do you want to spend it? I bet none of them would say on HS2.”

 

Camden was well represented at the protest, with a dozen Labour councillors joining the non-political Camden-based SOS Camden and Save Camden from HS2 groups.

 

Bob Latham, from the Euston Action Group, was there wearing a special anti-HS2 tie along with Jonny Bucknell from the Conservative Party.

 

Green Party leader Natalie Bennett said: “The Green Party is the only national parliamentary party absolutely opposed to HS2. Caroline Lucas will be in Parliament expressing that. We say no to HS2 not just on the damage on the route, but because it is the wrong spending for Britain. HS2's own 72 per cent of journeys are going into London."

 

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