Aylesbury MP Rob Butler 'disappointed' with Transport Secretary's response on HS2 question

Aylesbury MP Rob Butler says he has been 'inundated' with messages from constituents asking why the Government are spending billions on HS2 during the Coronavirus Pandemic.

He said that the way we now work has 'drastically changed', and it's clear the project should not be a priority at the moment.

He said: I've had many emails from constituents asking why HS2 is going ahead when coronavirus is costing the country billions of pounds and the way we work has changed dramatically.

"Yesterday I put those points directly to the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps MP. Sadly to no avail."

Government Transport Secretary Grant Shapps responded the HS2 project 'would still be relevant in the decades ahead'.

Mr Shapps added that once the pandemic is over 'more people will want to travel again', adding that construction of HS2 'is a sign of our confidence about our country's future'.

Mr Butler said it was 'A very disappointing response', but that he would always stand up for local people impacted by this project.