Policy Exchange

"Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, is the conspicuous lack of public enthusiasm for the project and excitement about it. Earlier this year, Policy Exchange's Northern Lights report had polling data showing that just 32% of people in the North feel HS2 is a good use of money compared with 53% who believe it isn't. In his assessment of the reasons for such scepticism, speaking to the Northerner, Policy Exchange's Director, Neil O'Brien pointed to the hostility that many generally feel to all major government schemes. But he continued:

"High Speed 2 isn't going to reach the north in the near future, so in a sense it is not that surprising if people in the north don't think it will benefit them: the main beneficiaries in the near term are people going between London and Birmingham."