Douglas Carswell

How should I vote on HS2?

Like with Equal Marriage, the pros are convinced of the case for, and the anti certain all the evidence points against. Neither side seems able to imagine that a reasonable person might see arguments either way.

But over HS2 I remain resolutely uncertain.

Of course, there's the cost - already in the zillions and certain to rise. Plus the fact no private investors seem willing to put their own money into the scheme.

Then there is the violation of private property interests all along the route. Not to mention the Westminster group-think lining up behind the scheme. I see all that.

But as I busily research the competing claims about capacity, I have one real nagging doubt.

There on page 23 of the Conservative party manifesto on which I stood for election is a black and white promise to approve the wretched thing. 

Don't misunderstand me. I am all in favour of MPs voting down their front bench. I am all in favour of backbenchers saying "Yah boo! Sucks to you! I don't agree with the corporate party line".

But if something is in black and white in the party manifesto, surely you normally ought to support it? And if you were not able to support it, as an individual candidate, surely you ought to have made it clear in your election address?

It is, if you stop to think about it, the whole reason each candidate gets a taxpayer funded election address in the first place.  It is why, incidentally, I took pains to make my own views on Europe clear in my election address in Clacton. 

I know that being in a weasly coalition means many in Whitehall take a pick'n'mix attitude to pre-election promises. But must the rest of us do so, too?  If so, then seriously, how could you trust any politician making any pre-election promise again? 

I do not know how I will vote on HS2.

What I do know is that HS2 shows why every Conservative candidate must have a say over what goes into the party manifesto in future.  And make it clear in their election address where they do not agree. 

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