The failing business case for HS2

Under a week ago, when James Forsyth wrote about how the government was successfully mobilising third party groups to support high-speed rail, it looked like Philip Hammond was going to get the neat debate he wanted. The script was simple: the new high speed line was urgently needed and in the national interest, a small number of people ardently opposed it because it would spoil their views. Since then that message has come unstuck.

I think it is understandable that some people are very upset at the aesthetic disruption that could come with HS2.  But that isn’t the only objection. Plenty of people who have no particular attachment to Wendover, Aylesbury or Great Missenden are opposed. The loose coalition of those who don’t think the case has been made for the Government’s plans is growing every day. Campaign groups including the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA); the RAC Foundation; the Countryside Alliance; and Friends of the Earth.