We had a discussion on here a while back, which suggested quite a substantial opposition to the project.

Now that there are rumours that the Northern section will be scrapped, what are the views now?

I was always an opponent of it, though softened slightly when an expert lady explained in more detail about the capacity issues on the East and West Coast mainlines.

2 minutes ago, tomski said:

Government taking control and doing what they want was a key point in 2016 was it not?

They want to invest in the south more with no interference 

As Mounts has said several times, he wants our Government, and nobody else (the EU), to decide how and where our money is spent. Although, in fariness, this is nothing to do with the EU, the Government has decided to spend money where they want to, and it just happens to not be in the North. If we don't like it, we get the opportunity to vote them out in a years time.

 

I do wonder though, what the costs of cancelling the Northern bit of HS2 are, because there will be a massive cost I[d have thought. You can't just say "that's it, no more"  - it'll possibly still cost billions of pounds to cancel the Northern leg. I'm sure it's all been costed though, and the information will be released shortly

2 minutes ago, Not in Crawley said:

Yeah - its not sunshine and roses down south. I go on the A2 all the time to pick up the kids, it is a total shambles and does need some serious investment.

And any Government that ignores that A2 in favour of infrastructure in the North, would in realty be failing the country. The A2 improvements are, like it or not, more important than a train link from Leeds to Liverpool/Manchester

Just now, Sweep said:

As Mounts has said several times, he wants our Government, and nobody else (the EU), to decide how and where our money is spent. Although, in fariness, this is nothing to do with the EU, the Government has decided to spend money where they want to, and it just happens to not be in the North. If we don't like it, we get the opportunity to vote them out in a years time.

 

I do wonder though, what the costs of cancelling the Northern bit of HS2 are, because there will be a massive cost I[d have thought. You can't just say "that's it, no more"  - it'll possibly still cost billions of pounds to cancel the Northern leg. I'm sure it's all been costed though, and the information will be released shortly

This 100%. At least someone reads my posts. 🤣

It’s simple

Just don’t vote for the cunts.

 

3 minutes ago, Spider said:

It’s simple

Just don’t vote for the cunts.

 

They'll still get +200 seats, as some people will never learn

3 minutes ago, Sweep said:

They'll still get +200 seats, as some people will never learn

I genuinely wouldn't be surprised if they won the next GE. Dismayed, but not surprised.

1 hour ago, Mounts Kipper said:

Did he really just say we will spend some of the money saved on upgrading the A2/A3/A5? FFS. Thats more investment down south. Every penny should be spent Birmingham North. 

I’m sure he said every penny would be reinvested back in the north and the midlands…and the rest of the country.

He’s basically fucked off the north, ensured the London Euston terminal is completed (which to be fair is the only sensible option) and will spend the savings all over the UK.

1 minute ago, Cheese said:

I genuinely wouldn't be surprised if they won the next GE. Dismayed, but not surprised.

Neither would I - it's going to be a whole lot closer than people think.

Given we have been waiting decades for HS2 only for it to be spiral out of control and get part of it binned, what gives anyone any confidence all these other projects will happen?

It could be 40 hospitals all over again.

Oh and the smoking policy is a good one - so well done for that.

7 minutes ago, Cheese said:

I genuinely wouldn't be surprised if they won the next GE. Dismayed, but not surprised.

Nah. They’re fucked. 

2 minutes ago, mickbrown said:

Nah. They’re fucked. 

I wouldn't be so sure. A week is a long time in politics - particularly in its current state. The next General Election might be 14 months away..

11 minutes ago, Cheese said:

I wouldn't be so sure. A week is a long time in politics - particularly in its current state. The next General Election might be 14 months away..

Put it this way then. Either they’re fucked or we are. 

2 minutes ago, mickbrown said:

Put it this way then. Either they’re fucked or we are. 

Given the last decade, that is a finely balanced pair of scenarios.

55 minutes ago, Not in Crawley said:

Oh and the smoking policy is a good one - so well done for that.

Thin end of the wedge?

4 minutes ago, globaldiver said:

Thin end of the wedge?

Not sure how this smoking age thing will be enforced.

A copy of your birth certificate to prove you are eligible?

Shop workers having to do extra maths?

We are the most taxed we have ever been and have the worst public services. We have had the circus of Johnson, the lunacy of Truss and the sheer audacity of Sunak. If they get voted back in next year the country is officially fucked.

7 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Not sure how this smoking age thing will be enforced.

A copy of your birth certificate to prove you are eligible?

Shop workers having to do extra maths?

Use the same proof of I.D. that works perfectly well for Alcohol and fags. 

18 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Not sure how this smoking age thing will be enforced.

A copy of your birth certificate to prove you are eligible?

Shop workers having to do extra maths?

It'll be very difficult to enforce, provided it gets through the vote to bring it in.

Obviously this will eventually reduce the tax take the Government receives from ciggies (although I don't know how that offsets against cost to the NHS etc)

It does seem odd to me that they'll increase the smoking age for cigs, but not for vapes (yet) - why not do them both at the same time? 

11 minutes ago, Mounts Kipper said:

Use the same proof of I.D. that works perfectly well for Alcohol and fags. 

Correct, it's not difficult

Personally I think we should all have ID Cards, if you don't have one, then you can't have booze or fags amongst other things

34 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Not sure how this smoking age thing will be enforced.

A copy of your birth certificate to prove you are eligible?

Shop workers having to do extra maths?

Aye. It’s nonsense 

16 minutes ago, Sweep said:

 

It does seem odd to me that they'll increase the smoking age for cigs, but not for vapes (yet) - why not do them both at the same time? 

maybe we would need to see the cabinets investments for that answer

28 minutes ago, Mounts Kipper said:

Use the same proof of I.D. that works perfectly well for Alcohol and fags. 

so i need to start carrying id

great

Just now, Casino said:

so i need to start carrying id

great

You’re nearly 60 you won’t need ID. 

3 hours ago, Sweep said:

Sunak's parents had a Pharmacy......who would have thought it 🙄

Was it on a Corner