The SNP will use its political sway to demand Labour starts in Scotland, not Birmingham, according to its deputy leader.
With the Scottish nationalists expected to secure the majority of seats north of the border, MP Stewart Hosie said they would use that power to try and shake-up plans for high-speed rail.
His comments will likely concern decision-makers in Greater Birmingham as HS2 is central to the region鈥檚 regeneration plans 鈥 for example, the is key to proposals to improve Birmingham city centre.
Mr Hosie, MP for Dundee East, said: 鈥淚f the polls are right and our substantial lead is translated into votes in a hung parliament position, if there was a minority Labour administration which needed our help in order to get their legislation through, we might well make a case for saying look, let鈥檚 not have HS2 go to Manchester and Birmingham, let鈥檚 have it start in Edinburgh, Glasgow, coming through Newcastle as well, so we have a joined up high-speed rail network across the whole of the island, to the benefit of everybody, not just those travelling from Birmingham to the south.鈥
Rachel Maclean, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Birmingham Northfield, said the comments showed the SNP threatened a key regeneration scheme.
She said: 鈥淗S2 will play an essential part in ensuring the future prosperity of both this region and the wider 海角视频 鈥 and Birmingham businesses are overwhelmingly behind it.
鈥淭he SNP have been explicit that that they will scrap HS2 as currently envisaged. A vote for any party other than the Conservatives risks putting Ed Miliband into Downing Street, propped up by the SNP, putting our economic security at serious threat.鈥
But Steve McCabe, Labour candidate for Selly Oak, told the Post it was an SNP fantasy.
He said: 鈥淲e are not going to waste our time with the SNP鈥檚 fantasies. They also want to move Trident to Devonport and probably a golden elephant for everyone in Scotland.
鈥淭here is a good, strategic, case for HS2 to start in Birmingham. It is going to do a great deal for capacity and connectivity in Birmingham and also connect the cities to the north.
鈥淚f I had to spend my time dismissing every SNP fantasy, I鈥檇 be a very old man by the time we were finished.鈥
