Philip Hammond should be wary of the ladies of Cranford. The advent of the railways was
met with considerable disquiet in rural England, depicted by Elizabeth Gaskell in both Cranford and North and South.
High-speed rail has inspired another wave of determined conservatism in the shires. It’s a proper grassroots movement. For months now, Tory-controlled Buckinghamshire has warned the government that its councils and associations would oppose the development. Cabinet Ministers whose seats are local have supported their constituents, but the resentment is unchecked and it will damage the Conservatives to an extent. Last week, I met two lifelong Buckingham Conservatives who had torn-up their membership cards in protest at what they termed:
‘Another government that gives the finger to rural interests.’
Already the few Conservative MPs who are, first and foremost, members of the Countryside Alliance are being urged to reject the government’s plans.
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