Jun
A Cabinet Minister has been challenged to quit over her opposition to the proposed high speed rail line between London and Birmingham.
The 32 billion High Speed 2 (HS2) scheme would cut through swathes of countryside, including parts of Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillans Chesham and Amersham constituency in Buckinghamshire.
Supporters say the track would spark economic growth north of London, with a possible extension of the line to Leeds and Manchester.
But opponents in counties affected by the planned track say the cost is too high and would spoil too much landscape with few guaranteed rewards.
Mrs Gillan, facing ongoing anger among Welsh MPs over her failure to secure the electrification of the Great Western mainline from London to Swansea, has reportedly vowed to resign her Cabinet post if HS2 is approved.
Speaking at Welsh Questions in the Commons, Labours Susan Elan Jones (Clwyd South) said: I have heard of trains cancelled because of snow on the line and leaves on the line, but never before because of the Secretary of State on the line.
Ms Jones claimed HS2 could help economic recovery, with workers and firms offered engineering contracts.
She added: HS2 would bring great benefits to Wales, but our Buckinghamshire-based Secretary of State opposes this.
If our Secretary of State wont stand up for Wales, why wont she resign?
Mrs Gillan thanked Ms Jones for her close interest in my career, and said: The Government is currently consulting on a new, national, high-speed rail network programme of modernisation of the rail network, including electrification of the Great Western mainline to Cardiff.
Shadow Wales Office minister Owen Smith pointed to Mrs Gillans resignation threat, telling MPs: We in Wales are very grateful for the offer but when will the precise date be to trigger it?
We are a generous people, we would very much like to give her a good send off.
Mr Smith added: Would the Secretary of State be happy to resign over the failure to deliver electrification of the rail line to Swansea and the Valleys, as she is happy to resign over matters in her own constituency?
Junior Wales Office minister David Jones claimed Mr Smith was geographically challenged and pointed out Labour failed to electrify an inch of track in Wales during the partys 13 years in power.
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