Dear Mr Cameron....

[pcstru]

And of course, public sector pensions are too generous to be sustainable which means George Osbourne couldn't possibly dip his thieving little mitts in to local government schemes and find a handy 10 billion to help fund the new rail link. Oh no, that just wouldn't be possible ...

[X-13]

That's the problem, remember the last long term plan.... The aircraft carriers, 8 years later we're now not expecting it until 2020........ And it's cost a bucket load already.
It's just a way of the government lining their pockets, and those of their friends. I wonder how many MPs have a vested interest in the companies who are selected to undertake the work.
It's this that is driving our country to the dogs, MPs pushing for "projects", when really it's their interest that are set to gain.
To be fair, I'd vote for the lot of them to be shot

[/salute]

@DT2 for Prime Minister.

[nephilim]

As would I, but I would also back a plan that has the potential to create thousands of jobs as that brings in more revenue VIA taxes and stimulates growth.

Bad as it sounds, look at Hitler. He made millions of jobs, by creating them. Pigeon scarers for parker to kerri them away from the parks, autobahn works, car manufacturing, rail works, electricals works etc. Fine not the nicest chap but did a lot for stimulation of the economy and people could learn from it!

[sparkeh]

Bad as it sounds, look at Hitler

Ding Ding!
Godwin's law comes into effect again

[nephilim]

Haha, but what I said was true

[zag]

I think you missed the point ... 33 Billion pounds is allot of money.
Were going though austerity where everything has been cut ... and yet all of a sudden we need a new rail link ....really ?

It does sound a lot but really it isn't.

The project is over 15 years so that's 2 billion a year.

Just to put that in context, we pay 150 billion a year on the social security bill. The 2 new aircraft carries are going to cost 7bn alone!

I really dont get the sort term view that we should just put up with the infrastructure we have and never build anything new.

[creese]

Bad as it sounds, look at Hitler.

Is it not still a bit early to be looking at Herr Schicklegrubber with Rose Tinted Brille??

[DT2]

I really dont get the sort term view that we should just put up with the infrastructure we have and never build anything new.

We shouldn't, but our governments have a shady track record and nephilim is right, this will create a huge amount of jobs.
But, long term plans made by this government will only end up being sidelined by the next government for more favourable projects, and maybe we should push for a more transparent process. We've seen it before, general sir Mike Jackson has highlighted in the past government ministers that have pushed projects, shortlisted companies in which they have vested interests and made substantial personal financial gains without even considering that it could have been done better, quicker and cheaper by other companies which tendered for the business.
It's not the project I'm against, it's the method by which they achieve it.

And don't even get me started on the lib dems and education....

[zag]

But, long term plans made by this government will only end up being sidelined by the next government for more favourable projects, and maybe we should push for a more transparent process.

I hope not as labour are behind the project also. I doubt they would perform a uturn, they actually introduced the idea.

[Theblacksheep]

Ding Ding!
Godwin's law comes into effect again

The greatest trick the devil ever created was a 'law' (aka a sentence named a law) that prevented people bring him up.

[DT2]

I hope not as labour are behind the project also. I doubt they would perform a uturn, they actually introduced the idea.

I hope not too, but I wouldn't hold my breath, for fear of turning blue!

[jamesb]

As would I, but I would also back a plan that has the potential to create thousands of jobs as that brings in more revenue VIA taxes and stimulates growth.

Yep - the driver's jobs should be especially good ones to create. Crow's already planning for them - First HS2 drivers’ strike scheduled for 2027

[broc]

Who will really benefit from this new rail link? As far as I can see, only a small number of business people who travel between London & Birmingham.

I am sure there are better ways of investing this amount of money to create jobs; resurrecting BSF (shudder!) in a lean & mean form cutting out the obscene waste would enable the rebuilding of most if not all of the leaky run-down secondary schools & benefit far more people in the UK than this vanity project will ever do.

[creese]

The Daily Mash - No-one in a hurry to get to Birmingham

[JonWPS]

Which government first proposed HS2?

I'm of the mind that it's the sort of infrastructure improvement we need to be making, and while the nimbys need to be properly paid off, there views shouldn't be allowed to bring a halt to proceedings if it's deemed the project is in the national interest.