Tory Conference

It was reported that high speed railways build cost is ten times cheaper, in France fir example. The explanation given is that they decide on budget at the outset while we leave the end cost open allowing all involved to increase when they feel so inclined.
This is Laissez-faire is at its worst. How embarrassing one of the so called richest countries in the world cannot afford to build a new train line.

Even more embarrassing is the fact that we invented the railway and exported it to the world.

The man who brought in HS1 under budget and on time denied job on HS2 because he lacked qualifications.
Something stinks here.

ayse

As a southerner living in the NE, the A1 is still partly single carriageway between Newcastle and Birmingham. Trains are cancelled on a fairly regular basis. It’s not great to travel over the Pennines. IMO HS2 should have been started in the NE or Leeds/Manchester and travelled up as far as Edinburg. The Tees Freeport much trumpeted as levelling up for the North has a chronic road system and could do with good transport links.

Levelling up etc. is laughable!

The A1 northbound was closed for hours on Sunday after a crash ( thankfully no one was killed).Cameron promised to build a dual carriageway by Morpeth when he came to power. It’s been put on hold yet again.

Ah you heard the same report Meryl. Yes the man who was in charge of hs1 was refused when he approached them. Astonishing!

MerylStreep

Even more embarrassing is the fact that we invented the railway and exported it to the world.

The man who brought in HS1 under budget and on time denied job on HS2 because he lacked qualifications.
Something stinks here.

Yes. I read that, too. Make you think, doesn’t it.

I think that is the corruption associated with it, that people talk about.

ayse

As a southerner living in the NE, the A1 is still partly single carriageway between Newcastle and Birmingham. Trains are cancelled on a fairly regular basis. It’s not great to travel over the Pennines. IMO HS2 should have been started in the NE or Leeds/Manchester and travelled up as far as Edinburg. The Tees Freeport much trumpeted as levelling up for the North has a chronic road system and could do with good transport links.

Levelling up etc. is laughable!

I'm a wee bit puzzled, ayse. The AI doesn't go anywhere near Birmingham. Are you getting your cities confused?

I've been travelling up and down the A1 for the best part of 50 years now. It was mostly 2 way when I started. It's now dualled (or even trebled) about as far as Morpeth then it's 2 way all the way to Edinburgh. Not the best road for freight traffic.

The Tees Freeport is a honey pot for tory corruption I'm afraid it doesn't sadden me that the road links are poor. I hope it fails.

Braverman talks today of a 'hurricane' of immigration to applause at the Tory conference. Does she not know that the vast majority of immigrants to the UK are invited and have visas because they are needed for our economy? She was of course talking mainly to the Tory Far Right and her real job is to stir up anti-immigrant feeling before the GE. Disgraceful.

I’m still uncomfortable about a first generation immigrant of African heritage attacking other immigrants with such enthusiasm and total lack of irony or humility.

You’re correct Grantanow, her job is to stir up anti immigrant sentiments in the build up to the general election. She also claimed Labour want open borders which is not what Starmer and Cooper have been demonstrating by their actions. Voting against Tory policy doesn’t equal not caring about what most people see as an immigration crisis

I think watching the Tory conference this week, there can be little doubt that it has been taken over by the populist authoritarian right.

Watching Patel and Farage, then listening to various speeches by Truss, Braverman etc, leaves me in little doubt what will happen to the Tory party after the election, whether they win or not.

I guess that with a Tory right takeover, which appears to be becoming Farage’s party, it leaves the centre ground wide open for Labour.

Whitewavemark2

I guess that with a Tory right takeover, which appears to be becoming Farage’s party, it leaves the centre ground wide open for Labour.

I expect centre right Tory voters feel the despair today that many Labour voters felt when Corbyn was elected as leader. It will be interesting to see if any MPs announce that they won’t be standing at the next election over the next couple of weeks.

Led by Donkeys? Surely the labour party have nothing to do with it.

usuallyright

Led by Donkeys? Surely the labour party have nothing to do with it.

No they don’t. It is a group of four friends - I think that they had/have something to do with Greenpeace.

Led by Donkeys has won lots of awards, for their originality etc.

A gay Tory member was sat listening to Bravermans speech, had the temerity to speak (rather quietly) his disagreement, was pounced on by the police and forced out.

Imagine what it would be like if Braverman has her way, and gets rid of the law that protects our freedom of expression!

It is all pretty depressing.

I’ve been watching Truss, Patel, Braverman and Farage behaving as if they are already in opposition.

Poor Sunak is bobbing around talking about anything except HS2.

On top of that we are being to a sort of post -truth narrative so redolent of Trump.

Moderate Tories must be utterly bewildered.

I hope you don't mind Whitewave, I have started a new thread about HS2 here.
www.gransnet.com/forums/news_and_politics/1328402-Sunak-kills-the-Northern-Powerhouse

For those in the North and many others, this us a thing apart.

MaizieD

ayse

As a southerner living in the NE, the A1 is still partly single carriageway between Newcastle and Birmingham. Trains are cancelled on a fairly regular basis. It’s not great to travel over the Pennines. IMO HS2 should have been started in the NE or Leeds/Manchester and travelled up as far as Edinburg. The Tees Freeport much trumpeted as levelling up for the North has a chronic road system and could do with good transport links.

Levelling up etc. is laughable!

I'm a wee bit puzzled, ayse. The AI doesn't go anywhere near Birmingham. Are you getting your cities confused?

I've been travelling up and down the A1 for the best part of 50 years now. It was mostly 2 way when I started. It's now dualled (or even trebled) about as far as Morpeth then it's 2 way all the way to Edinburgh. Not the best road for freight traffic.

The Tees Freeport is a honey pot for tory corruption I'm afraid it doesn't sadden me that the road links are poor. I hope it fails.

Yes of course! I meant Newcastle to Edinburgh! How silly of me.

Yes I agree about Teesport. I believe it was reported on some time ago. I wonder what underhand dealings have been happening with HS2. I’m pretty sure this will come to light at some time in the future.

Just listened to Sunak’s speech at conference. Does he really believe that any of his promises will come to fruition? It felt, to me, like promising the earth because he knows he won’t ever have to deliver it. Rather like Johnson’s 40 new hospitals. Perhaps we Northerners will be able to travel to those imaginary hospitals on the new imaginary rail lines!

Why is he promising to make the country a better place when his party have had thirteen years to do so? Is he correct in saying that Labour sent everybody to university and scrapped apprenticeships by the way?

No, and Labour are not calling for a meat tax either.

Iam64

I’m still uncomfortable about a first generation immigrant of African heritage attacking other immigrants with such enthusiasm and total lack of irony or humility.

You’re correct Grantanow, her job is to stir up anti immigrant sentiments in the build up to the general election. She also claimed Labour want open borders which is not what Starmer and Cooper have been demonstrating by their actions. Voting against Tory policy doesn’t equal not caring about what most people see as an immigration crisis

Why is it uncomfortable for you? She is speaking the truth. Her family came here legally. Many people who came here from abroad legally feel the same.

My friend comes from Tanzania and had to jump through all the hoops and do everything properly which took a long time and she is really angry when she sees all the people arriving on boats illegally and says “maybe that’s what I should have done.”

I watched a prog on TV where people from different countries were being interviewed and they all agreed that it wasn’t right or fair. These were Poles, Czechs, Ugandan Asians and West Indians.

MayBee70

Why is he promising to make the country a better place when his party have had thirteen years to do so? Is he correct in saying that Labour sent everybody to university and scrapped apprenticeships by the way?

No. The pigs are flying again today. Here is the UCAS student acceptance rate trend, see page 9.
researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7857/CBP-7857.pdf

What’s he doing about A levels? Are overworked and stressed teachers now having to change their A level courses?