4 October 2023
RMT Press Office:
Following a speech by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, where he announced the scrapping of HS2 to Manchester, RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: “The incompetence of successive Tory governments has now cost the taxpayer billions and led to this disastrous decision for Britain's economy, environment and our ailing transport infrastructure.
"High Speed rail together with a modern expanding public transport network is key to the future of linking every part of our country together, from north to south and East to West.
"Public transport investment is not an either-or question. The fact is we will not be able to tackle the climate emergency without encouraging people to use modern, cheap and efficient high speed rail and hugely expanded local bus services.
"The key to thriving economies of the future is to be environmentally sustainable and to interconnect cities, towns and villages to promote economic activity.
"The Conservative government is playing political games ahead of an election and instead of investing properly in Britain's public transport and high speed future, Rishi Sunak risks putting the country in the slow lane."
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