Government says it's committed

The Department for Transport has strongly denied suggestions that the HS2 rail project could be delayed or scrapped completely.

An article in The Spectator magazine suggested it could be the end of the line for the scheme and opponents have already welcomed the idea.

The high speed rail link would cut through swathes of countryside in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

Campaigners against the project say it won't offer value for money.

Mr Rukin added: "The Prime Minister talks about wanting to join the high speed revolution and if he wants to do that, he has two choices, either go down the line of bankruptcy like The Netherlands and Spain, or follow the example of Belgium, Poland and Portugal and cancel this white elephant before it is too late."

But today, a spokesman for the Department for Transport said there no question of any delay on the project._

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Fifteen local councils launched a legal challenge in April against the decision to go ahead with the rail link.