Commenting on the announcement today on the route HS2 will take to Manchester, Michael Fabricant says:-

"I am totally opposed to HS2 going anywhere near Staffordshire. I will not be supporting the legislation in Parliament after it has passed through the Bill Committee unless the route is moved and the route, originally supported by the Conservatives in Opposition, avoids south Staffordshire altogether by utilising existing transport corridors such as major motorways. I will continue to fight for this in Parliament. This is the way they do it in continental Europe as it minimises the environmental impact of the line. This present route is unacceptable."

"I have no illusions on how HS2 will affect residents of Kings Bromley, Armitage and the Ridwares as the line to Manchester plunges northwards through rural Staffordshire blighting homes and blighting lives."

"In the meantime, I re-affirm that I will continue to work with HS2 to mitigate the damage that is done by their current proposal. This pragmatic, two-pronged approach is the best for my constituents for as long as all three main political parties in Parliament support HS2."