1. Central
  2. 5 updates

MPs vote to give HS2 a second reading

The £50billion HS2 rail line which will link the Midlands to London will go ahead as planned. MPs voted to give the legislation behind it a second reading - despite protests from campaigners and 33 Conservative MPs who voted against.

Live updates

List of Midlands Tory rebel MPs against HS2 plans

A majority of MP's have voted in favour of giving the HS2 bill a second reading, with 452 to 41 backing the principle of the HS2 project.

A total of 47 Conservative MPs missed the vote and 41 MPs either opposed the HS2 plans or backed an amendment put forward by former Cabinet minister Cheryl Gillan.

  • Peter Bone (Wellingborough)
  • Andrew Bridgen (Leicestershire North West)
  • Bill Cash (Stone)
  • Michael Fabricant (Lichfield)
  • Philip Hollobone (Kettering)
  • Chris Kelly (Dudley South)
  • Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford)
  • Chris Pincher (Tamworth)
  • Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury)
  • Caroline Spelman (Meriden)
  • Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth & Horncastle)
  • Chris White (Warwick & Leamington)
  • Dan Byles (Warwickshire North)
  • Bill Wiggin (Herefordshire North)
  • Mark Pawsey (Rugby)

Read more here: MPs vote to give HS2 bill a second reading

  1. National

HS2 'will start in 2017', Transport Secretary confirms

Tonight's vote in Parliament on the HS2 bill means the high-speed rail line will begin construction in 2017, the Transport Secretary has confirmed.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin at the proposed site of the HS2 East Midlands Hub in Long Eaton Credit: Joe Giddens/PA Wire/Press Association Images

Patrick McLoughlin also tried to calm the fears of anti-HS2 campaigners over the impact of the proposed route on their areas, saying:

"I am aware of the concerns some who live very close to the HS2 route have. I am confident however that by working together we can ensure this vital new north-south railway is designed in the right way, and we will have spades in the ground in 2017 as planned."

Advertisement

  1. National

MPs vote to give HS2 bill a second reading

ITV News Deputy Political Editor Chris Ship has been following the votes on the HS2 bill in the House of Commons.

MPs have now voted in favour of giving the legislation a second reading.

Anti-HS2 campaigners release alternative project pictures

The alternative picture of HS2 to those widely used Credit: HS2 Action Alliance

As a debate takes place in the House of Commons ahead of a vote on whether HS2 will go ahead in principle, the HS2 Action Alliance have released alternative pictures to campaign against the project.

They argue HS2 would damage the countryside, and cost too much money.

MPs to vote on HS2 legislation today

The controversial £50bn high speed rail line which will link Birmingham and the East Midlands with London and the north enters a key phase of its development today when MPs debate and vote on legislation.

The second reading of the HS2 Hybrid Bill allows the House of Commons to approve the project in principle.

Cheryl Gillan, the Tory MP for Chesham and Amersham, has pressed for an extra day's debate on Bill:

I'm sure you and the usual channels would not want to short-change MPs or our constituents outside, and I am asking for a second day's debate on April 29...

So many people's lives and homes and livelihoods are affected, so much environment is damaged and there is such a high risk with this project, this House deserves two days' debate on the second reading.

– Cheryl Gillan MP
Back to top