Hands up, who really wants HS2? Politicians, associated hangers-on in all those regional regeneration agencies, myriad advisors, construction industry members, architects, bosses who would like to get to London that bit quicker – you’re not allowed to vote.
What if we ask a different question: do you believe the £106bn currently apportioned to the new fast rail link could be better spent elsewhere? Same exclusions apply.
Hopefully, Ispos Mori will be able to provide the answers. The pollster has been added to the list of firms occupying that grey PR, public affairs space aimed at telling us why HS2 is a good thing. There were 17 on the ticket, make that 18. Ipsos Mori is on a 4-year deal worth £1.96m. It’s thought to be one of the biggest ever struck by a UK public organisation.
