HS2: Cheryl Gillan, David Willets and Douglas Alexander

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12 September 2012 Last updated at 08:58 ET Help

Former minister Cheryl Gillan claimed the government appeared to be going "lukewarm" on the high speed HS2 rail project, initially running from London to Birmingham.

She said there was no benefit to her Buckinghamshire seat, as there were no stops, and the government should be spending its money on other rail projects. As a backbencher, she is more free to speak against the government policy which backs the scheme.

She debated the plan with Conservative Universities Minister David Willets and the shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander, who also both back the project, which should be extended in later years to northern England and Scotland.