Business leaders attack HS2 'folly'

The Midlands Trades Union Congress has hit back at the Institute of Director's description of the HS2 project as 'a grand folly.'

The Institute of Directors has joined those calling for HS2 plans to be scrapped.

They say the high speed rail line which would cut the journey time between Birmingham and London to fifty minutes is "a grand folly." HS2 has argued the new rail line would create thousands of jobs.

Liberal Democrat MP, Norman Baker, has repeated his support for HS2. The MP said there is a strong environmental and economic case for high speed rail.

Opponents of the scheme have criticised the cost of the project, but Baker has compared them to people who were against the construction of the Channel Tunnel and M25.

The Institute of Directors have joined those calling for HS2 plans to be scrapped, calling the high-speed rail line which runs through the Midlands 'a grand folly'.

A survey of IoD members found that less than a third feel HS2 represents good value for money and 70% say the scheme will have no impact on their businesses.

The IoD see high-speed rail as a lower priority than it was two years ago but HS2 have argued that passenger numbers are still growing and the rail line will create thousands of jobs.