'Sack me over HS2' MP dares Prime Minister (From Bucks Free Press)

'Sack me over HS2' MP Cheryl Gillan dares David Cameron

5:09pm Sunday 12th June 2011 in News By James Nadal

MP CHERYL Gillan has indicated she is prepared to be sacked as a Government Minister by David Cameron over High Speed 2.

The Amersham and Chesham Parliamentary representative says she can not vote in favour of the £33bn rail project, which would cut directly through Buckinghamshire countryside.

As the HS2 consultation draws to a conclusion, she said it was up to the Prime Minister whether she kept her job as Welsh Secretary – should the plans proceed to a vote in the House of Commons.

And a letter from Chesham and Amersham constituency Conservative Association has been sent to all Tory MPs calling for rebellion on the scheme.

“If the proposals go through as they are, I cannot vote for them,” she told The Sunday Times.

“If that happens the Prime Minister must decide whether he wants me or not.”

“If the project goes ahead, I would resign the whip unless the Prime Minsiter tells me he would allow me to vote against it. When I was appointed to the cabinet, the Prime Minister knew of my opposition to this.”

The letter sent out by association chairman Andrew Garnett labels the project “grossly expensive” and asks Conservatives to help ensure it fails to happen.

Political opponents in the Chilterns have previously called on Mrs Gillan to resign her Cabinet post.

However, she has argued that she has more power to fight the project inside the Government than as a backbencher.

Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond has labelled opponents to HS2 'nimbys'.

He argues the modern rail scheme is crucial for the future of Britain's transport infrastructure and claims it will help bridge the north-south divide.