I'm not convinced by HS2 says former Labour campaign chief Watson

Now the Labour MP for West Bromwich East, who previously oversaw the party's campaigning as it tries to win the next election, has revealed he is 'not convinced' by the promise that the line will bring prosperity to the West Midlands.

Meanwhile, councillors in Staffordshire said they would now work to get the best deal for residents affected by the line.

It comes after a ;very clear message' from MPs that they wanted the controversial rail line to go ahead, voting 452 to 41 in favour.

The majority of Mr Watson's fellow MPs for the Black Country and South Staffordshire voted in favour of the line, which will start being built in 2017 and will see two new stations in Birmingham.

Dozens of Tories, including Lichfield MP and former party vice chairman Michael Fabricant and Dudley South MP Chris Kelly, voted against the plans in a late night debate on Monday.

A handful of Labour MPs joined them.

But Mr Watson said he had 'positively abstained'.

Labour leader Ed Miliband voted for HS2 as did shadow chancellor Ed Balls, despite his previous statement that it would not get a 'blank cheque' from the party.

Mr Watson, a former Labour deputy chairman, said: "I'm still not convinced that this £50 billion worth of infrastructure investment will benefit many people in the Black Country. The Government has not given any guarantees that there will be improved frequency and journey times so I'm not prepared to sign up to it just yet.

"I do believe in investment for additional capacity in the railway. I'm just yet to be convinced by this particular project."

Tory MP Mark Garnier, who represents Wyre Forest, was absent for the vote. He was on an official visit to China and Tory whips had 'paired' him with a Labour MP who was also missing the vote.

Mr Garnier was said to 'see the benefits of HS2, particularly with regards to Birmingham Airport'.

Meanwhile, Staffordshire County Council, which is Tory-controlled, is opposed to HS2.

The council believes that backers of HS2 have 'failed to make the business case that the new line is a viable alternative to investing in the current infrastructure' and calls it a 'scar on our beautiful countryside'.

Councillor Mark Winnington, spokesman for economy and infrastructure, said: "We always said it was a decision for MPs and the vote gave us a very clear message that there is now an exceptionally high chance it will go ahead.

"We need to make sure we get the maximum mitigation in terms of the environment and compensation for residents."

Supporters of HS2 in the West Midlands said the vote showed how the significant benefits of HS2 were 'widely recognised and understood'.

Councillor John McNicholas, chairman of transport authority Centro, said: "The West Midlands alone can secure a £4 billion a year economic boost and more than 50,000 new jobs.

"Last night's vote brings HS2 a significant step closer but we now need to press on as a region and put in place the infrastructure we need locally to realise and maximise those benefits."