Green Party members challenge policy over HS2

GREENS4HS2, a group of Green Party members who support the HS2 rail project, have launched a new campaign website to challenge their party’s position on the scheme.

The website, hs2.green, details the group’s position and how members see HS2 as a core part of a low-carbon future for British transport.

There has been growing concern over how the Green Party claims to ‘support the principle of a new northsouth high speed line which would reduce the number of short-haul flights within the UK’, yet a number of senior members and party leaders are steadfastly and publicly outspoken against HS2.

Solihull councillor Tim Hodgson said: “The Green Party’s policy remains unclear on HS2 – we have contradictory statements that just don’t add up. The last time we looked at this question was 10 years ago, so it’s really important we examine the facts and data again to make sure our position is correct.

“We’re out of step with our sister parties in Scotland and Europe, and we’re not listening to the rail experts who are telling us this project is essential if we’re going to help people get out of their cars and into public transport.”

Evidence

Coun Hodgson’s view was echoed by town planner Adam Turner, who said: “The climate crisis needs to be tackled as quickly as possible, but this Government is currently planning to build 4,000 miles of new roads; so it’s more important than ever that the Green Party is following the evidence.

“The problem is that there are so many myths around HS2 – why it’s needed, how much it really costs, how long before it’s carbon-neutral, what the environmental impact is – and unfortunately my party has been taken in by them.”

An increasing number of Green Party members are seeing HS2 and rail more widely as an integral part of a net-zero carbon future, and the capacity released by HS2 a part of the process to enable people to leave their cars at home for local journeys.