Baroness Kramer, the new Lib Dem transport minister

Published: 22 October 2013
By RICHARD OSLEY

NEW Liberal Democrat transport minister Baroness Susan Kramer has underlined her party's support for the HS2 rail link.

In her first speech in the new role – she replaced Norman Baker in this month's reshuffle – Baroness Kramer insisted: "We are driving forward HS2 because the benefits it will bring are huge."

Her words will be a blow to party members in Camden who have campaigned against the £50 billion project, which is set to turn areas around Euston and Camden Town into a construction site for a decade. Locally, the party's leader Councillor Keith Moffitt has spoken of his outright opposition to HS2, while ward councillors Chris Naylor and Paul Braithwaite have both urged for a re-think.

Baroness Kramer said: "If upgrading existing lines were a feasible and effective answer to rising demand believe me – we would do it."

She was speaking a Railway Engineers Forum event.

Camden is due to be the worst affected area in the country by the work with hundreds facing eviction from their homes and businesses around Euston and huge disruption set for Camden Town where bridges will be dismantled to link the new line with the existing HS1 track running to Kent.

Yesterday (Monday), Labour big hitter Lord Andrew Adonis – the Baron of Camden Town – re-iterated his party's support for the scheme nationally, warning that the government must not "fumble" the project.