Dozens of MPs to vote against HS2 in Commons vote
At least 40 MPs will rebel against the Government's controversial HS2 rail scheme when it faces its first vote, it has emerged.
However Staffordshire MPs are divided over the High Speed Rail (Preparation) Bill, which will be debated in the House of Commons for the first time next week.
Stafford MP Jeremy Lefroy will vote against the bill but Michael Fabricant, for Lichfield, is set to back the legislation.
It comes after Mr Fabricant dramatically resigned from the Government last year to fight the scheme. He said he would oppose the project in the long run but would vote in favour of the first bill as it includes provision for compensation payouts for his constituents who will be affected by the scheme.
The compensation scheme has been highly controversial with 75 per cent of requests rejected for residents living along the first part of the line – which passes through Whittington – who claim it will cause 'exceptional hardship'.
Mr Lefroy said: "I will be voting against it. It has a severe impact on my constituency. "My main reason is I don't believe the business case has been made."
