High Peak Liberal Democrats

Nick Clegg says High Speed 2 is good for London and the North

Writing in Friday's Financial Times, Nick Clegg reasons that HS2 is good for London as well as the north.

He says that the capital's long-term status as an economic global powerhouse will be threatened if housing and transport infrastructure inside London are not upgraded, and the links to and from the city are not improved. He cites Germany and Japan where good transport links have allowed prosperity to "flow from one part to another". If we want to keep Britain among the world's largest economies, Clegg argues, we must find a better way to link London to the rest of the UK.

"There are forces who have always opposed doing anything big beyond London. They seem content to see the bubble blow up in the capital without providing any sort of valve for release. It has been going on for years, it has got to change and under this government it is."

Declaring he is "a stronger supporter than ever", Clegg declares:

"HS2 will not be a rail line in isolation but a tool for communication that will provide room for many more people to travel more easily, more quickly and more frequently at minimal environmental cost. It is needed. It will work. It will be affordable. It will provide space for growth. It will make our country stronger"

• Display: Accessible
• Switch to: Desktop (requires cookies)

• My Account.
• Privacy Policy.
• Other Party Sites.