Every taxpayer is being ripped off by HS2

The British taxpayers are currently being ripped off by the Coalition Government with the vastly expensive and highly-debatable HS2 railway line. The first stage from London to Birmingham, second stage Birmingham to Manchester and Leeds and third stage up to Glasgow and Edinburgh - no stopping between these cities.

The general public have clearly not been informed of the vast cost of this project, spread over many years and for which taxpayers will have to pay to £2,000 per family, costing £35 billion. How about a bit of fairness - keeping people in jobs now.

The British public should be given the opportunity of a referendum and, if carried out, a large percentage would vote the project out of order.

Democracy means majority decision rules and this would cancel the high speed railway line on many counts. The line would only serve a minority of the public, ie wealthy businessmen on expenses. The fares for the public would be very expensive.

The Government is arrogant and should listen to the British public. Do not ignore them. We should be a caring society, not the ‘big I am society’. - Richard G Ferry, Cubbington