I am bitterly disappointed but not surprised by the Government’s HS2 announcement.

Ministers have rejected the very strong case against this new route which as MPs we’ve worked with local groups and put directly to Government. South Yorkshire’s been sold a dud with this spur line to Sheffield rather than a main route station at Meadowhall. Nothing in the HS2 announcement today deals with the evidence that the Meadowhall route offers the least disruption to residents and the best benefits for the whole of South Yorkshire.

I have opposed the change of route since the outset and I’ll continue to argue strongly for a main route HS2 station in South Yorkshire, which is vital for future jobs and growth. The Transport Secretary has confirmed in a letter to me that consideration of a South Yorkshire parkway station is ongoing and I – alongside other local MPs – will continue to press the case for this.

The local HS2 action groups – especially in Bramley and Hooton Roberts – have worked so hard to help convince the Government to reject the change of route, and they’ll be rightly angry they’ve been ignored by Conservative Ministers.

What is announced today is simply the worst of all worlds, with a high-speed route running right through South Yorkshire but not stopping in South Yorkshire.