Should MP sacrifice career over HS2? (From Bucks Free Press)
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Should MP sacrifice career over HS2?
11:20am Sunday 15th January 2012 in Comment
THIS week’s announcement that the Government is forging ahead with the HS2 rail project has prompted a storm of anger from the many residents and groups intent on fighting the plan, and has left one of our MPs in particular in a very tricky spot.
Chesham and Amersham MP Cheryl Gillan’s anti-HS2 stance was a key point of her last election campaign, and she has since maintained her strong criticism of the proposal.
Since David Cameron appointed to the cabinet as Secretary of State for Wales she has even hinted he may have to sack her if he wanted her to vote for the plan.
So should she follow the calls from campaigners for her resignation from the cabinet? Should she dedicate herself to battling HS2 from the backbenches?
Her argument has been that she can wage a more effective campaign against the plan from her cabinet post. Whether this is correct or not remains to be seen.
But what we know for sure is that HS2 remains a deeply unpopular idea in south Bucks – one that could have a dramatic effect on people’s lives, tunnels or not.
Mrs Gillan may have a duty to the people of Wales but first and foremost she has a deep responsibility to all those who voted for her in 2010 to consider her next move on this issue very carefully indeed.
It is not just her political career on the line – it is our greenbelt, our Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and, in some cases, our very homes that are at risk.
We appreciate her desire to show party loyalty and at the same time act as a conduit for her residents’ concerns. It is highly possible she has already helped to lessen the impact of this awful project.
Equally we accept it would be a huge career sacrifice on Mrs Gillan’s part if she were to leave the Cabinet and sit on the back benches instead. It may well be right that she is better fighting inside the tent than outside it.
But, at the same time, such a sacrifice would surely be a massive boost to any campaign to reverse this awful decision, however unlikely that reversal may seem today. Walking out of the Cabinet on this point of principle may just be the kick up the pants the Government needs to begin seeing the error of its ways.
So we suggest, Mrs Gillan, that your constituents need you to make this sacrifice. Because, ultimately, their sacrifice – the future of their green and lovely Chilterns – is going to be a whole lot dearer than any political career.
Comments(4)
Scarletto
says...
12:24pm Sun 15 Jan 12
She's let us down and acted shamefully, showing little integrity. Not so long ago she was shamed for claiming for pet food on her Commons expenses.
Then she backed opponents of the new rail route but caved in at the 11th hour to back the costly scheme which will spoil our countryside. She also wanted to toe the line with the rest of her Conservative party and desperately please colleagues there.
Now it seems she's quietly sold her Old Amersham home to get away from the nuisance rail line and says it's because of her old husband. She no longer has a home in our area.
She defended her own selfish interests but not the lives of her constituents who trusted her to be honest and decent in her dealings with them.
She faces all ways to satisfy all but has other motives.
Hypocrite, I say madam. Be gone with you. Voters must cast her out at the next election.
There have been other MPs like her in the past and they were swept away for their doubtful actions. We haven't forgotten her pet food bills too!
Josborne
says...
1:04pm Tue 17 Jan 12
Cheryl Gillan also says that her loyalty is to the Conservative Party and the Government. Surely her first priority should be to her constituents, who voted her in to her job!!
wayneo
says...
8:10pm Wed 18 Jan 12
Scarletto wrote:Well said (written even)
Many of us will now join the chorus calling for Cheryl Gillan to resign. She's let us down and acted shamefully, showing little integrity. Not so long ago she was shamed for claiming for pet food on her Commons expenses. Then she backed opponents of the new rail route but caved in at the 11th hour to back the costly scheme which will spoil our countryside. She also wanted to toe the line with the rest of her Conservative party and desperately please colleagues there. Now it seems she's quietly sold her Old Amersham home to get away from the nuisance rail line and says it's because of her old husband. She no longer has a home in our area. She defended her own selfish interests but not the lives of her constituents who trusted her to be honest and decent in her dealings with them. She faces all ways to satisfy all but has other motives. Hypocrite, I say madam. Be gone with you. Voters must cast her out at the next election. There have been other MPs like her in the past and they were swept away for their doubtful actions. We haven't forgotten her pet food bills too!
Scarletto says...
12:19pm Sun 15 Jan 12
She's let us down and acted shamefully, showing little integrity. Not so long ago she was shamed for claiming for pet food on her Commons expenses.
Then she backed opponents of the new rail route but caved in at the 11th hour to back the costly scheme which will spoil our countryside. She also wanted to toe the line with the rest of her Conservative party and desperately please colleagues there.
Now it seems she's quietlysold her home to get away from the rail line and says it's because of her old husband. She no longer has a home in ur area.
She defended her own selfish interests but not the lives of her constituents who trusted her to be honest and decent in her dealings with them.
She faces all ways to satisfy all but has other motives.
Hypocrite, I say madam. Be gone with you. Voters must cast her out at the next election.
There have been other MPs like her in the past and they were swept away for their doubtful actions. We haven't forgotten her pet food bills too!