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Ex-health secretary suggests all MPs should consider reality TV and says he is entering the jungle to raise dyslexia awareness
Mark Harper, the new transport secretary, was the government voice on the airwaves this morning. He said the government remained committed to HS2, but he implied it was looking at the costs could be cut. He told Sky News:
We’re going back to our 2019 manifesto, looking at the commitments we made. We have got a commitment to make sure we can get high-speed trains to Leeds.
What we’re doing in my department, and what I’ve been briefed on, is we’re looking at all of the options that are available to do that.
I’ve looked very carefully at the concerns that people have got, at the very comprehensive report the transport select committee did.
You will know my predecessor but one paused rolling out any new smart motorways until the department gather evidence over a significant period of time about their operation, about their safety record, so that we could then make some decisions in the light of all of that evidence, and that position remains the case.
Personally, I think good luck to him. But I think he is totally crackers to do this.
Because I think it’s the wrong place to do it from, the wrong time and the wrong programme. To do it as a sitting MP just brings all these questions.
