HS2 wins crucial vote as Miliband gets on board with high speed rail

An artist's impression of how an HS2 station may look.

After weeks of uncertainty about Labour’s position over the controversial high-speed line, the Doncaster North MP said his party is “supporting HS2” and is concerned only with ensuring it represents “value for money”.

Speaking to the Yorkshire Post, Mr Miliband took a very different tack to that of his Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls, who has suggested repeatedly over recent weeks that the “benefits” of the £42.6bn rail line have not yet been proven.

“We’re supporters of HS2 – that’s why we’re voting for the Bill today,” Mr Miliband said. “We’re supporting HS2 and we want to carry on supporting it, but we must make sure there is value for money. I think that’s something that frankly, the British public will absolutely understand.”

Mr Miliband came under fire from David Cameron on Wednesday over Labour’s wavering stance. The Prime Minister said the Labour leader was “too weak” to stand up to Mr Balls over HS2.

But Mr Miliband pointed to the backbench Tories opposed to the scheme – 17 of whom voted against the HS2 Bill yesterday – to insist it was the Tories who were “deeply split” on the issue.