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Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell plan to whip Labour into backing HS2

   Move comes despite previous opposition to the £55bn railway
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   Despite its many opponents, the majority of the Parliamentary Labour
   Party now backs HS2 ( Getty )

   Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell plan to whip Labour into backing High
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   During the Labour leadership contest last summer, a source close to Mr
   Corbyn said HS2, which will cut journey times between London
   andBirmingham to 49 minutes, “benefited the few rather than the many”.
   Mr McDonnell, the shadow Chancellor, told the Department for Transport
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   “given the complete lack of information on the impact” on his Hayes &
   Harlington constituency in London.  But both have since changed their
   minds and now back HS2, which is in line with the majority of the
   Parliamentary Labour Party.

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Read more

     * Read more HS2 in danger of coming off the rails as problems
       multiply

   Sir Keir is furious because redevelopment work on HS2’s terminus,
   Euston, will last until 2033, disruption that has angered his
   constituents. He wants the terminus moved several miles away to Old Oak
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   The Camden New Journal reported last week that Sir Keir could resign if
   Labour enforced the whip on the HS2 bill, which will be debated on 22
   March.  However, it is understood that Labour is tabling an amendment
   designed to protect social housing around Euston and mitigate the
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       Powerhouse

   A source close to Mr Corbyn said this compromise will “hopefully”
   persuade Sir Keir to follow the whip and vote in favour of HS2.
   However, it is not definite that the amendment will be picked for
   debate and, even if it is, there might not be sufficient cross-party
   support to get it passed.

   The Conservatives are more badly split over HS2, with many
   middle-England MPs worried they will lose supporters who are dismayed
   by the project blighting the countryside.
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   harsher effects of construction.
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 Created with Sketch. Corbyn and McDonnell plan to whip Labour into backing HS2

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   Despite its many opponents, the majority of the Parliamentary Labour
   Party now backs HS2
   Getty