List of opposition to High Speed 2

"Stop HS2" signs are frequently erected by opposition groups in areas close to the planned HS2 route

The planned high-speed railway in the UK known as High Speed 2 has encountered significant opposition from various organisations and individuals.

Political parties

• The Green Party had previously voted to oppose the HS2 plans at its Spring 2011 conference on environmental and economic grounds.^[1] Alan Francis, the party transport spokesperson, had previously outlined its support for high-speed rail in principle in terms of benefits to capacity, reduced journey times and reduced carbon emissions, but recommended a line restricted to 300 to 320 kilometres per hour (190 to 200 mph) which would enable it to use existing transport corridors to a greater extent and increase efficiency.^[2] However, in September 2024 the party reversed its stance and now supports the line.^[3]
• The UK Independence Party (UKIP) is opposed nationally and locally to the proposed HS2 plans.^[4][5] UKIP has been campaigning against HS2 as it is also part of the EU's Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) Policy. It had previously proposed a much larger and more expensive three-line high-speed network running from London to Newcastle (and on to Scotland), London to Bristol (and on to Wales) and London to Birmingham along with upgrading several other sections of the WCML and Scottish rail to high speed in its 2010 manifesto.^[6]
• The Brexit Party said in 2019 it would save £200 billion by shelving the HS2 project.^[7]

Campaign groups

• Stop HS2 organises nationally and represents local action groups along the route, under the slogan "No business case. No environmental case. No money to pay for it.".^[8][9] Chair
• Penny Gaines commented in 2020 that "The case for HS2 has always been poor, and is simply getting worse".^[10]
• Extinction Rebellion, a global protest movement. Alongside Stop HS2, Extinction Rebellion organised a walk of 125 miles along the proposed railway line in June 2020.^[11]
• The HS2 Action Alliance was an umbrella group for opposition groups.^[12][13] These included ad hoc entities, residents' associations, and parish councils.^[14] The Alliance's primary aim was to prevent HS2 from happening; secondary aims included evaluating and minimising the impacts of HS2 on individuals, communities and the environment, and communication of facts about HS2, and its compensation scheme.^[12] The HS2 Action Alliance criticised the Department of Transport's demand forecasts as being too high, as well as having other shortcomings in the assessment methodology.^[15][16]
• Action Groups Against High Speed Two (AGHAST) claimed in 2011 that the project was not viable economically.^[17]
• The Right Lines Charter, an umbrella group established in 2011 for several environmental and other organisations that support the principle of a high-speed rail network but believe that the current HS2 scheme is unsound. Members include the Campaign for Better Transport,^[18] the Campaign to Protect Rural England, Friends of the Earth,^[19] Greenpeace, and Railfuture.^[20]

Environmental groups

Perivale Wood in Ealing

• The Woodland Trust opposes the current route of the proposed High Speed 2 rail link because of its impact on ancient woodland. It reports that 108 ancient woods are threatened with loss or damage from the project.^[21]
• The Wildlife Trusts, which have criticised the proposals, stating that the former Government's policy on High Speed Rail (March 2010) underestimated the effect on wildlife habitats (with 4 SSSIs and over 50 of other types of nature site affected), as well as noting that the proposals had not comprehensively shown any significant effect on transport carbon emissions and questioning the economic benefits of a line. The trusts called for additional research to be done on the effects of a high-speed line.^[22]
• The Selborne Society voiced its concern about the proximity of HS2 to Perivale Wood, a Local Nature Reserve in Ealing.^[23]
• The Campaign to Protect Rural England believes that lower speeds would increase journey times only slightly, while allowing the line to run along existing motorway and railway corridors, reducing intrusion.^[24]

Other groups

• The National Trust. Fiona Reynolds, at the time Director-General, stated in 2010: "there are lots of questions about the economics and above all the impact".^[25]
• The New Economics Foundation, a think-tank promoting environmentalism, localism and anti-capitalism. It published a formal response to the public consultation in August 2011^[26] which concluded that the case for a high-speed rail link was incomplete and that the benefits of the scheme had been "over-emphasised" by its promoters.^[27]
• The Taxpayers Alliance, an anti-tax pressure group, describes the project as a white elephant.^[28][29]
• The Independent newspaper considers the costs excessive and the benefits uncertain.^[30] An investigation published in February 2013 claimed that 350 wildlife sites would be destroyed by the new HS2 line^[31] and an accompanying editorial argued that environmentalists should oppose the project.^[32] A separate investigation published in March 2013 suggested that the project was unlikely to keep within its £33 billion budget.^[33]
• The Federation of Small Businesses, which has expressed scepticism over the need for high-speed rail, stating that roads expenditure was more useful for its members.^[34]
• High Speed UK "is an alternative high speed rail network developed by professional railway engineers to address the shortcomings of HS2."^[35]

Individuals and politicians

Notable individuals

• Chris Packham, naturalist^[36]
• Noddy Holder, musician^[37]

Conservative politicians

• Steve Baker, Conservative MP for Wycombe 2010–24 and Chair, European Research Group^[38]
• Shaun Bailey, Conservative Candidate for London Mayoral election 2021^[39]
• Bob Blackman, Conservative MP for Harrow East since 2010^[40]
• Sir Graham Brady, Conservative MP for Altrincham and Sale West from 1997 to 2024^[38]
• Andrew Bridgen, Conservative MP (2010–23) & Independent MP (2023–24) for North West Leicestershire from 2010^[41]
• Rob Butler, Conservative MP for Aylesbury 2019–24^[38]
• Theodora Clarke, Conservative MP for Stafford 2019–24^[38]
• Phillip Davies, Conservative MP for Shipley 2005–24^[38]
• Liam Fox, Conservative MP for North Somerset 1992–2024^[42]
• Dame Cheryl Gillan, Conservative MP for Amersham and Chesham from 1992 to 2021^[43]
• James Grundy, Conservative MP for Leigh 2019–24^[38]
• Adam Holloway, Conservative MP for Gravesham 2005–24^[38]
• Chris Loder, Conservative MP for West Dorset 2019–24^[38]
• Joy Morrissey, Conservative MP for Beaconsfield since 2019^[38]
• Laurence Robertson, Conservative MP for Tewkesbury 1997–2024^[38]
• David Simmonds, Conservative MP for Ruislip, Northwood & Pinner 2019–24^[38]
• Greg Smith, Conservative MP for Buckingham 2019–24 & Mid Buckinghamshire since 2024^[38]
• Alexander Stafford, Conservative MP for Rother Valley 2019–24^[38]
• William Wragg, Conservative MP for Hazel Grove 2015–24^[38]

Labour politicians

• Tony Berkeley, Labour Member of the House of Lords^[44]

• The Lord Mandelson, Former Labour MP and House of Lords member since 2008^[45]
• Barry Sheerman, Labour MP for Huddersfield 1979-24^[46]
• Tulip Siddiq, Labour MP for Hampstead and Kilburn 2015–24 & Hampstead and Highgate 2024–^[47]
• Christian Wolmar, Former London Labour Mayoral candidate^[48][49]

Green Party politicians

• Jonathan Bartley, Co-Leader of the Green Party and Leader of the Opposition on Lambeth London Borough Council since 2018^[50]
• Siân Berry, Co-Leader of the Green Party and Green member of the London Assembly 2016–24 and MP for Brighton, Pavilion 2024–^[51]
• Caroline Lucas, Green MP for Brighton, Pavilion 2010–24^[52]
• Caroline Russell, Leader of the Green Party on the London Assembly since 2016^[53]
• Natalie Bennet, Leader of the Green Party 2012-16 and Member of the House of Lords 2019-^[54]

Brexit Party politicians

• Nigel Farage, sometimes leader of UKIP and later the Brexit Party, MEP 1999–2019, current leader of Reform UK since 2024 and MP for Clacton since 2024^[55]

Local government

• The 51m group consists of 19 local authorities along or adjacent to the Phase One route. It suggests the project will cost each Parliamentary Constituency £51 million.^[56] Constituent members of 51m include:
  • Buckinghamshire County Council^[57]
  • London Borough of Hillingdon^[58]
  • Warwickshire County Council^[59]
  • Leicestershire County Council^[60]
  • Northamptonshire County Council^[61]
  • Oxfordshire County Council^[62]
  • Coventry City Council^[63]
  • Camden Borough Council^[64]
  • Staffordshire County Council^[65]
• Derby City Council was disappointed at the chosen location for the East Midlands Hub station in Toton, preferring a route that would make use of the existing Derby railway station.^[66] These plans are opposed by Derbyshire County Council,^[67] Nottingham City Council,^[68] and Rushcliffe Borough Council.^[69]
• The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce opined that HS2 offered no benefit to its area.^[70]
• Wakefield Council opposes HS2, preferring instead "to upgrade rail connections between the cities and towns in the North's east and west and to make the national highway fit for purpose".^[71]

See also

• List of support for High Speed 2
• Rail transport in Great Britain
• Turin–Lyon high-speed railway

References

1. "Greens oppose HS2: "it wouldn't do what it says on the tin"". Green Party. 26 February 2011. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
2. "Updated Green Party proposals on HS2 route". Green Party. 22 March 2010. Archived from the original on 29 June 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
3. "Green Party reverses its opposition to building HS2". The Independent. 8 September 2024. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
4. "UKIP set to make HS2 an issue in local elections | Railnews | Today's news for Tomorrow's railway". Rail News. 7 April 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
5. "UKIP Say No To HS2". UK Independence Party. August 2011. Archived from the original on 16 April 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
6. Category: 2010 Policy documents. "Transport 2010". UK Independence Party. Archived from the original on 5 September 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2013. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
7. Reporters, Telegraph (9 December 2019). "Brexit Party manifesto 2019: key policies, at a glance". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 30 December 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
8. "StopHS2". 30 November 2012. Archived from the original on 21 March 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2018. We oppose the HS2 High Speed Rail link, because the business case is based on unrealistic assumptions, the environmental impact has not been assessed, it is not green, the strategic benefits are questionable, and the money could be better spent on other things.
9. Millward, David (12 January 2012). "Tory MPs face high speed rail backlash". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2018. Another campaigner, Penny Gaines, chairman of stop HS2. accused Mrs Gillan of "bottling out" by appearing to welcome the concessions announced by Justine Greening, the Transport Secretary.
10. "Storm breaks after Berkeley publishes his HS2 review". Rail News. 6 January 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
11. Taylor, Diane (20 June 2020). "Anti-HS2 protesters begin 125-mile walk along proposed route". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
12. "About us". Amersham: HS2 Action Alliance. 2010. Archived from the original on 10 January 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
13. Woodman, Peter (19 December 2010). "High-speed rail route to be announced". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
14. "HS2 action groups (and other HS2 active organisations)". HS2 Action Alliance. 2010. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
15. "Transport and the economy, Memorandum from Wharf Weston (TE 30)". UK Parliament. November 2010. Archived from the original on 31 March 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
16. "Memorandum from Bluespace Thinking Ltd (TE 07)" (PDF). UK Parliament. September 2010. 7. Problems with the current forecasting and analysis methodology. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 March 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
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18. "Briefing on White Paper on High Speed Rail, White Paper Response". Campaign for Better Transport. n.d. Archived from the original on 20 September 2011.
19. "High Speed Rail: Friends of the Earth's views" (PDF). Friends of the Earth. October 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
20. "About the Charter". Right Lines Charter. 2011. Archived from the original on 3 February 2012.
21. "High Speed 2". August 2013. Archived from the original on 28 November 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
22. "The Wildlife Trust's position statement on High Speed Rail 2 (HS2)" (PDF). Warwickshire Wildlife Trust. October 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 July 2011.
23. Hall, Dewey W. (2016). Romantic Naturalists, Early Environmentalists: An Ecocritical Study, 1789–1912. Routledge. p. 14. ISBN 978-1-317-06151-9. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
24. "Is High Speed 2 on the Wrong Track?" (Press release). Campaign to Protect Rural England. 4 November 2010. Archived from the original on 11 November 2010.
25. Howie, Michael (7 November 2010). "National Trust anger over High Speed 2 railway". The Sunday Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 14 June 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
26. "Response to the HS2 Consultation". New Economics Foundation. New Economics Foundation. 4 August 2011. Archived from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
27. "Response to the HS2 Consultation" (PDF). New Economics Foundation. New Economics Foundation. 3 August 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
28. Cole, Rob (4 February 2011). "HS2 Rail Link Between London And Birmingham A 'White Elephant' Says Taxpayers Alliance | UK News". Sky News. Sky News. Archived from the original on 7 February 2011.
29. Stokes, Chris (4 February 2011). "Research Note 82: High Speed Rail" (PDF). Taxpayers' Alliance. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 April 2011.
30. "Editorial: High-speed rail is not the best way to spend £32bn". The Independent. London. 28 January 2013. Archived from the original on 16 December 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
31. Randall, David; Owen, Jonathan (3 February 2013). "IoS investigation: HS2 – the hidden cost to Britain's wildlife". The Independent on Sunday. London. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
32. "Editorial: Light green is not green enough". The Independent on Sunday. London. 3 February 2013. Archived from the original on 16 December 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
33. Leftly, Mark; Merrick, Jane (10 March 2013). "Revealed: HS2's £33bn budget already derailed before a track is laid". The Independent on Sunday. London. Archived from the original on 11 March 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
34. Walker, Jonathan (3 December 2010). "Business call for high speed rail cash to be spent on roads". Birmingham Post. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012.
35. "ABOUT HSUK". highspeeduk.co.uk. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
36. Suemori, Akira (28 June 2020). "Springwatch presenter Chris Packham wins right to hearing over HS2". The Times. Archived from the original on 29 August 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2020. The television presenter and naturalist Chris Packham has won a breakthrough in his campaign against HS2.
37. Hardiman, Deborah (29 December 2021). "Noddy Holder: HS2 line will be an expensive mistake". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
38. Morrissey, Joy [@joymorrissey] (22 December 2019). "Fighting HS2 🚅 with my fellow Conservative MPs. This week I joined the HS2 Review Group. We have collectively written to the PM calling for HS2 to be cancelled due to the collapsing business case. Letter in full below. #stopHS2 https://t.co/nwpTpHYHt5" (Tweet). Retrieved 24 December 2020 – via Twitter.
39. Rogers, Alexandra (15 July 2019). "Tory mayoral hopeful Shaun Bailey calls for 'pause' on HS2". CityAM. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
40. Proctor, Ian (29 April 2014). "Harrow MP Bob Blackman among rebel Tories who tried to block HS2 bill". MyLondon. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
41. "HS2 go-ahead: Support and criticism among MPs". BBC News. 11 February 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
42. Watts, Joseph (4 July 2016). "Liam Fox will 'scrap HS2' if he becomes PM and Conservative leader | Politics | News | London Evening Standard". Standard.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 July 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
43. Gillies, Kiera (24 January 2020). "'HS2 is billions over budget' – MP Cheryl Gillan continues to condemn the controversial project". Bucks Free Press. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
44. Devereux, Nigel (2 November 2019). "Leaked draft confirms Oakervee support for full HS2 route". The Railway Hub. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
45. Batty, David (2 July 2013). "Lord Mandelson warns HS2 will be an 'expensive mistake'". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 1 April 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
46. Eaton, George (31 October 2013). "HS2 vote: the Tory and Labour rebels". New Statesman. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
47. "Keir Starmer and Tulip Siddiq set to ignore three-line Labour whip on final HS2 vote". Camden New Journal. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
48. "Why I remain opposed to HS2 – response to Ian Walmsley – Christian Wolmar". Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
49. Wolmar, Christian (16 April 2014). "What's the point of HS2?". London Review of Books. Archived from the original on 11 March 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
50. "Jonathan Bartley responds to government's decision to greenlight HS2". Green Party. 11 February 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
51. Osley, Richard (29 November 2019). "Green candidate: 'Turn HS2 site into a new national park'". Camden New Journal. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
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53. "Publication from Caroline Russell: Letter to Sadiq Khan on Climate Emergency Funding". 19 February 2020.
54. "EXCLUSIVE: "I will not personally be speaking in favour of HS2." - @TheGreenParty peer Baroness @natalieben responds to controversial vote at #GPC24 on #HS2 which reverses long standing Green Party opposition to HS2, effectively splitting the party on the issue". X. 8 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
55. "Nigel Farage: Why Spend "Vast Amounts of Money" on HS2 to Get to Manchester 20 Minutes Quicker".
56. 51m membership Archived 2018-07-19 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 3 June 2011
57. Poole, Lawrence (8 December 2010). "We don't want it here, we don't want high speed rail anywhere". Buckinghamshire Examiner. Uxbridge. Archived from the original on 11 September 2011.
58. "Council to 'robustly resist' high speed rail". Uxbridge Gazette. 6 December 2010. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
59. "County council opposes HS2" (Press release). Warwickshire County Council. 15 December 2010. Archived from the original on 27 April 2011.
60. "Leicestershire is in – another local authority confirms it's challenging HS2" 51m website Archived 26 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
61. "Northamptonshire Arc". Northamptonshire County Council. High Speed Two (HS2). Archived from the original on 13 September 2011. the County Council objects strongly to the current published routes and insists that HS2 should only go ahead if a route can be found through consultation which minimises the potential adverse effect on local amenity, landscape and the environment
62. Three Rivers DC and Oxfordshire CC join 51m. Retrieved 29 August 2011 Archived 28 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine
63. Bates, Matthew (15 December 2010). "City council unites in opposition to HS2". Coventry Observer. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011.
64. "Impact of HS2 – Camden Council". Camden.gov.uk. 30 July 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
65. "High Speed 2:Staffordshire County Council set to oppose plans" (PDF) (Press release). Staffordshire County Council. 18 November 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2012.
66. Johnson, Robin (18 July 2013). "HS2 Derby route to "be considered"". Derby Telegraph. Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
67. Jones, Severn, Chris, Joey (10 July 2013). "County council veto for HS2 alternative". Derby Telegraph. Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
68. Henesey, Bryan (9 July 2013). "Toton 'still best choice' for high-speed rail line". Nottingham Post. Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
69. "Parkway backed for HS2 station". Nottingham Post. 3 December 2013. Archived from the original on 6 December 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
70. "HS2 route will only benefit Birmingham, says Coventry business boss". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 24 November 2010. Archived from the original on 15 March 2011.
71. "Wakefield reacts to HS2 announcement". Wakefield Council. 18 July 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2021.