I agree with this. If LNER management, public relations, and indeed Ministers had been honest about the nature of these proposals, they would have side-stepped the majority of the criticism they're now facing. Of course, there would have still been some criticism - as is more than permitted and indeed perfectly healthy - but they would have been able to rebut this more effectively.
As they haven't done that, I think senior management know they're now stuck defending the indefensible, and they're just too weak to admit it...