South Northamptonshire MP vows to defend right to speak out over HS2 rail link

Earlier this week, it was revealed HS2 Ltd challenged the right 414 petitioners objecting to the controversial rail link to share their views with a Lords Select Committee because they were not directly, or personally, affected.

Mrs Leadsom said she had been told by the legal team acting on behalf of the committee that she has no right to speak despite there being no objections to Mrs Leadsom’s earlier appearances in front of the Commons Select Committee. She said it appeared that all Members of Parliament who had petitioned the Lords have had their positions challenged via “locus standi”.

Mrs Leadsom said: “The sheer number of locus standi challenges that have been issued is staggering, and completely not what I or my constituents were expecting. We have a right to speak on this issue and to have our concerns listened to by those with the power to improve the scheme.

“I have pressed for years for better compensation and mitigation for my constituents, and I had a number of specific suggestions for improvements that I wanted to raise.

“I fully intend to appear before the Lords Select Committee to defend my right to speak, and I will support any constituent who has been similarly challenged.”