The Chancellor of the Exchequer set out his vision for a brighter Britain in his conference speech today, explaining that the party are laying the groundwork for a strong economy in the future. To show his commitment to doing just that, the MP for Tatton opted to use an example that proves how he puts the country above all else, even his wealthy constituents:
‘I am very lucky to represent a constituency just a dozen miles to the south of here full of pretty villages and market towns in the flat and lush Cheshire plain. The great writer Elizabeth Gaskell used to live there, and she drew on her life in nineteenth century Knutsford to write her most famous book.
In the novel, Cranford, the town campaigns to stop the new railway coming through. And today, there are some people in my constituency who want to stop our new high-speed railway.’
Osborne then noted that despite opposition from his constituents for HS2, he has pushed ahead with it:
‘I respect their opposition – but I also respectfully disagree. Where would Britain be if we had never built railways or runways, power stations or new homes? Where will be in the future if we stop building them now? I’m not prepared to turn around to my children or indeed anyone else’s child, and say: I’m sorry, we didn’t build for you.’
Still, Mr S couldn’t help but remember that Osborne was previously accused of doing just this. In 2013 Osborne had to deny allegations that he had helped to secure a £600million detour for the High Speed Rail line to avoid losing conservative votes. Critics complained a ‘bend’ in the line meant it would not affect the richer areas of the constituency. We’re all in it together, after all.
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