Agenda 2019

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/hs2-cost-of-london-to-birmingham-leg-of-proposed-new-railway-a-third-higher-than-previously-a6734746.html Cost of London-to-Birmingham leg of proposed new railway a third higher than previously estimated Campaigners against the proposed HS2 railway line This insane waste of tax payers (that's us) money has not even started, and already we are being informed that the cost has increased to an estimated £80 billion. Osborne has promised "austerity" for the next 20 years in order to control government spending and "bear down"on the deficit, and yet the amount to be spent on this lunatic project increases almost monthly. Apparently, vast sums of money can de found for "prestige projects" to satisfy some politician's (and some business men's) ego's, but the country cannot afford to allocate, what in comparison, are modest sums for the provision of care for the elderly, or working tax cre...

  http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/sep/24/hs2-bidding-process-opened-up-chinese-companies HS2 bidding process to be opened up to Chinese companies I am not asupporter of HS2. Having said that, I appreciate that the contract will be very attractive to elements within the conservative party not least of all to Cameron and Osborne who no doubt see substantial opportunities for they and their business and city "friends " to make vast sums of money for themselves and by various backdoor avenues, for the coffers of the Conservative party. As usual for prjoects of this size and nature, the British tax payers, that is you and me, will fork out huge sums, at the latest guesstimate somewhere in excess of £43billion, on the promise of hundreds of jobs for the UK economy and being "good for Britain and British travellers". This may sound all very well, but is of course complete nonsense. The reality is that sometime soon, some currently obscure Chinee...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/snp-fury-as-hs2-finds-no-business-case-for-taking-fast-train-service-to-scotland-10272342.html SNP fury as HS2 finds 'no business case' for taking fast train service to Scotland    High Speed Trains. Not going to Scotland anytime soon! I am not an HS2 supporter and personally would scrap the whole idea. However,having been practically promised the HS2 link into Scotland, it is very understandable why the SNP and presumably hundreds of thousands of people in Scotland, would be incensed at yet another "English renege" on an undertaking now clearly designed to promote a "No" vote in the Scottish independence referendum. How many more promises, undertakings, assurances made to the Scottish people during the campaign will be broken by Cameron and his wretched government over the coming months? More Scots now wishing they had voted "Yes" is hardly surprising.

  http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/ios-investigation-hs2--the-hidden-cost-to-britains-wildlife-8478609.html New rail line threatens 350 unique habitats, 50 irreplaceable ancient woods, 30 river corridors, 24 Sites of Special Scientific Interest and hundreds of other important areas. Is this really progress? Route finalised.   £33 billion on a project which will not even start for another 4 years at the earliest, and will not be complete until 2032 at the earliest. In addition the effect on communities, regions and wildlife sites will be disastrous. If there is £33 billion "in the kitty", infrastructure projects NOW will have an immediate effect on the economy and on un employment with some housing, hospitals and road programmes. The current rolling stock and track system may well be in need of upgrading, but the HS2 project announcement  for public consumption rather than a serious intention to tackle the current economic problems of the c...