Petition Cancel the High Speed 2 Train project and invest in developing short-haul airliners for export instead

Cancel the 33 billion pound 'High Speed 2' London-Birmingham rail project!

The demand for such travel is totally unproven, the environmental impact disproportionate and since we no longer have a train-building industry the only beneficiaries will be foreign companies, with British participation at the 'navvy' level.

It's ridiculous to spend so much public money on inflexible 19th-century technology, and pass the real benefits to our overseas rivals.

So instead, invest in our native aero-engine and aviation industries by commissioning a clean, quiet and economical short-haul airliner to replace HS2- which must be be designed and built in Britain.

Use it for fast domestic travel between any two cities (not just London-Birmingham!) and export it throughout the world.

The benefits to Britain in terms of future export revenue and skilled jobs make it highly worthwhile.