Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has admitted for the first time that the Government’s HS2 Hybrid Bill will not pass into law before the general election.

Speaking to The Spectator, Mr McLoughlin said the legislation would have "started its parliamentary progress" by the time of the general election, but when asked if it would be completed he answered: "no."

Lottie Jones of Ruislip Against HS2 said: "It's good to see that the transport secretary is finally admitting that the government's timetable for HS2 is unrealistic. There has been a lot of hot air about HS2 being 'fast tracked' but despite desperate attempts to push the project through parliament more quickly, the reality is that it still needs to be scrutinised more closely.

"HS2 will undoubtedly become a hot election issue and with such little public support and massive criticism from so many independent bodies,it will be interesting to see whether ministers will have the nerve to keep pushing this colossal white elephant.

"Whilst we face so many cuts and when so many parts of the country are crying out for investment in local infrastructure, HS2 is only going to become more and more unpopular with voters."

Nick Hurd yesterday made his views on HS2 clear in response to the Hybrid Bill.

The Conservative MP for Ruislip, Pinner and Northwood had previously been accused of 'sitting on the fence' with regards to HS2.

Last month, a letter from Ickenham Residents' Association publicity officer Brian Adams to the Uxbridge Gazette criticised Mr Hurd for a recent piece in the Town Crier, the newsletter of the Ruislip Residents' Association.

Mr Hurd addressed traffic movements, tunnel spoil placement and other issues concerning the HS2 construction project, but after Mr Adams' letter, the MP hit back with a response.

Mr McLoughlin's admission was not unexpected by campaigners against the high speed rail project.

Stop HS2 Campaign Manager Joe Rukin said: "Finally there is an acceptance from Government on one of the issues we have known for the last four years, the chance of getting the HS2 bill through before the next election are zero, and have always been.

"There have been over 20,000 responses to the Environmental Statement consultation, and the vast majority of those people will want to make petitions in Parliament. That process will take years, it was always going to take years, and it was always going to be that HS2 would be a major issue at the next election."