It has been reported today that nine Tory councils are spending over £1 million to oppose Government plans for High-Speed Rail.

News broke today that major district and county councils along the route of the proposed high-speed two have established a ‘fighting fund’ to oppose the project.

With dissention already in the Tory ranks, this will surely add fuel to the fire resulting in a confrontation between the Tory leadership and their traditional heartlands.

HS2 was in the Conservative Party manifesto, and has had continued support from the Transport Secretary, the Chancellor and the Prime Minister himself.

In PMQs in June, David Cameron said:

I believe that if we are really serious about rebalancing our economy and ensuring that we get growth across the country, and not just in the south-east, the time for high-speed rail has come. That is why it has my strong support.

Our sources suggest the news has prompted the Audit Commission to look into a possible misuse of public money.

If this is true, this could mean big trouble for the nine councils.

Local authorities cannot be seen to be spending on publicity and lobbying to oppose the government in times of cutbacks and jobs losses.

Update: Tory MP Accuses Councils Of ‘Illegally’ Spending £1m Of Taxpayers Money To Fight High Speed Rail

Reader comments

1. Lucy James

   Well-placed source: Audit Commission may ask if Tory councils are mis-using public money to oppose high-speed rail2 http://t.co/DPp19qv

2. Alex Braithwaite

   Well-placed source: Audit Commission may ask if Tory councils are mis-using public money to oppose high-speed rail2 http://t.co/DPp19qv

3. Martin Shovel

   Well-placed source: Audit Commission may ask if Tory councils are mis-using public money to oppose high-speed rail2 http://t.co/DPp19qv

4. Richard Hardy

   Audit Commissions abolition will prevent accountability like this http://t.co/H5j1sI7 pls RT @M_Star_Online @pcs_union @ProspectUnion

5. Richard Hardy

   Audit Commissions abolition will prevent accountability like this http://t.co/H5j1sI7 pls RT @communist_party @gagging_order

6. Richard Hardy

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7. Kam Satchell

   Well-placed source: Audit Commission may ask if Tory councils are mis-using public money to oppose high-speed rail2 http://t.co/DPp19qv

8. Richard Hardy

   Well-placed source: Audit Commission may ask if Tory councils are mis-using public money to oppose high-speed rail2 http://t.co/DPp19qv

9. Gagging Order

   MT: @Redvark: #AuditCommission abolition will prevent accountability like this http://t.co/tfgxXFy

10. Prospect Union

    Audit Commissions abolition will prevent accountability like this http://t.co/H5j1sI7 pls RT @M_Star_Online @pcs_union @ProspectUnion

11. Len Arthur

    Sources: Audit Commission looking into Tory councils opposing HS2 http://t.co/e8a2UV1

12. Greg Sheppard

    Well-placed source: Audit Commission may ask if Tory councils are mis-using public money to oppose high-speed rail2 http://t.co/DPp19qv

13. Yes To HS2

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14. Meeting Place Comms.

    RT @Biz4HS2: Tory councils opposing #HS2 face questions http://t.co/xjj267W #Chiltern #Aylesbury #Hillingdon #HSR

15. James Leppard

    Audit Commissions abolition will prevent accountability like this http://t.co/H5j1sI7 pls RT @M_Star_Online @pcs_union @ProspectUnion

16. Jill Hayward

    Audit Commissions abolition will prevent accountability like this http://t.co/H5j1sI7 pls RT @M_Star_Online @pcs_union @ProspectUnion