Unions urge Ed Balls to support HS2 rail project

Failure to build high-speed line would be 'disastrous for the British economy', Labour-affiliated unions tell shadow chancellor

Failing to build HS2 would be "disastrous for the British economy", unions have warned the shadow chancellor, Ed Balls, on the back of fears that he is undermining Labour support for the rail scheme.

Leaders of affiliated transport unions wrote to Balls urging him to fully back the high-speed rail network, saying Labour needed to show "vision and commitment" to a long-term transport policy.

Proponents of the HS2 scheme say that cross-party backing is vital if a scheme of this magnitude is to be built. Construction of the £42.6bn network is scheduled to last until 2033, when the rail lines north of Birmingham to Manchester and Leeds should open.

However, while Labour remains officially supportive, Balls has signalled scepticism, most notably during a party conference speech where he questioned whether £50bn, the price tag including the trains, could be better spent elsewhere. Last week he reiterated at the CBI conference that there would be "no blank cheque" for HS2.

But in the letter, the Aslef leader, Mick Whelan, and Manuel Cortes, general secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association, along with Diana Holland, assistant general secretary of Unite, warn Balls against repeating the mistakes of previous Labour governments in cancelling big infrastructure projects.

They write: "As the representatives of many rail industry employees we do not believe that upgrades to the current network or longer trains can meet peak demand or provide the necessary enhancements to local services or freight.

"You'll appreciate [that] the consequences of insufficient capacity on the rail network would be disastrous for the British economy and society in the future, with major implications for our domestic and international competitiveness.

"You will be aware that the Labour government elected in 1974 cancelled both the construction of the Channel Tunnel and the Maplin airport in Essex. It is crucial that an incoming Labour government in 2015 does not make a similar mistake.

"In the absence of a national transport strategy from the current government, Labour needs to show that it has the vision and commitment to a transport policy for the long term including the development of a high-speed rail network."

Balls' stance has attracted fierce criticism from Labour strongholds in the north of England.

The union leaders conclude: "A responsible approach to financing the project is, of course, essential but Labour must continue to support HS2."

A spokesperson for Balls said: "The trade unions are right to say that we need a responsible approach to funding. That's why Ed Balls has said that while Labour supports a new north-south rail line there can be no blank cheque for it when the costs have gone up by £10bn under David Cameron.

"We will take a hard-headed look at both the costs and benefits of the scheme to ensure it is the best way to spend £50bn."

Article Source : http://www.guardian.co.uk
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