Euro-MP attacks Labour’s “blank cheque” for roads

12.00.00am GMT Thu 12th Dec 2002

Liz Lynne, Liberal Democrat Euro-MP for the West Midlands, has strongly criticised the government’s transport policy, following Alastair Darling’s statement earlier this week.

Liz said:

“With Labour, it is one rule for road, and another for rail. In almost the same breath he condemned the rail industry for allowing their costs to spiral, he has signed off more than a billion pounds for road expansion.

“Roads have cost successive governments a fortune over the past 30 years, yet their only solution would appear to spend still more money on still more expansion. Where will this end? A similar policy now threatens the Warwickshire countryside with this ridiculous Rugby airport proposal.

“Under ‘predict and provide’ policies, cars and planes will always win out against buses and trains. A responsible government would manage growth, restricting it in unsustainable forms of transport and encouraging greener alternatives.”