Yes, but the French (and other EU mainland) TGV form a network of long distance high speed lines, and the Chunnel and HS1 form a logical extension to this.
I would like to see such a network in the UK but it ain't gonna happen. But a long distance line ( at least from Glasgow/Edinburgh) which joins HS1 would be a different proposition. This would be for political reasons (to make the Scots feel part of the UK), and, yes, for national pride if we do it better than the rest of the world.
Who is the proposed line for? As Mike says most of the population will have to travel into London to get on it, and his Parkway station makes a lot of sense. As it is, someone suggested it will make life easier for people in Leeds to commute to London. Really? We can not continue this madness. We need to be saving energy and not inventing new travel by any method and that is why I am agin it.
Ed