I understand that Birmingham City Council is irritated by the “NO” banners erected and paid for by my colleague Nikki Sinclaire MEP and placed next to the council banners proclaiming “YES, TO HS2” at ratepayers’ expense!

Speed kills, but speed also costs in terms of energy and is not “green”. Thanks to HS2 (likely cost £35 billion plus) Birmingham Airport will become a major London airport, more than rivalling Gatwick. Good for airport expansion plans but bad for local noise levels and bad for the West Midlands, which will be sidelined in favour of London. Does the council realise that HS2 means Birmingham will become a London commuter town?

The impact will mean wage rates may well rise but fragile local industry cannot afford higher wage rates to match employees’ higher mortgages and they will close. Good job the council gets rates on empty property to pay for banners!

Mike Nattrass MEP