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news
Southfields LTN in LB Ealing (picture Simon MacMichael)Rishi Sunak pledges to “stop war on motorists” and review LTNs
Rishi Sunak – who as Chancellor of the Exchequer not only pursued the same policy as Conservative predecessors in the post for the past 12 years in freezing fuel duty, but earlier this year actually cut it – has pledged to halt what he says is “the war on motorists” if elected leader of the party next month, which would see him succeed Boris Johnson as Prime Minister.
The Tory politician also said he would review low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) which aim to stop rat-running drivers use residential streets as short cuts to avoid congestion, halt the rollout of smart motorways, and tighten regulation of private parking contractors, reports Wales Online.
Sunak, who trails Liz Truss in the polls in the leadership contest which will be decided by Conservative Party members, has been described by his supporters as the “most pro-driver Chancellor in history.”
He said: “The UK is a passionate driving nation because driving provides freedom.
“We need to stop making life difficult for the vast majority of people across the UK who rely on a car as their primary source of transport to healthcare, employment and other essential day-to-day things.
“As Chancellor, I introduced the largest cut to fuel duty in a generation, and as Prime Minister I will go further so that we stop the war on motorists once and for all.”
His plans to review LTNs are said to be based on his belief that they impede police, fire and ambulance vehicles, despite what Cycling UK has described as “clear evidence” to the contrary and the fact they are supported by the emergency services themselves.
> “Clear evidence” does not support “flat earther” LTN 999 delay headlines, says Cycling UK
His comments come at the end of a week in which former cabinet colleague, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, suggested that cyclists should be required to carry third-party insurance, be subject to the same speed limits as motorists, and have number plates on their bikes – although he subsequently rowed back on that latter point.
> “No plans to introduce registration plates” for cyclists, insists Grant Shapps
At the height of the pandemic, Shapps and Johnson strongly promoted cycling and walking as a key part of the country’s recovery and encouraged councils to set up LTNs – a policy opposed by many of their own MPs, as well as a number of Tory-run local authorities and whichever of Truss or Sunak gets the keys to Number 10 Downing Street next month, it is highly unlikely that support active travel will be high up their agenda.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
Latest Comments
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If it’s the same FOI response I saw ( FOI-0538-2425 ), in Richmond Park (local to me so the one I had a good look at in the FOI tables), from 2019...
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128 comments
Seems like Starmer is getting pressure from the 'Enough is Enough' movement. I just learnt about this today after seeing a headline about it online. It took me to the Daily Mail which is surprising given the opposing political views.
The 'Enough is Enough' movement already has more than 400,000 supporters – nearly as many members as the Labour Party, despite only being launched barely two weeks ago.
Enough is Enough says it was launched on August 8 by backers 'determined to push back against the misery forced on millions by rising bills, low wages, food poverty, shoddy housing and a society run only for a wealthy elite'.
An Enough is Enough spokesman said the group 'is about pulling our country back from the brink of a humanitarian crisis, not engaging in petty squabbles between politicians'.
I read "a society run only for a wealthy elite" and "not engaging in petty squabbles between politicians" and thought I could get behind that.
The race to the bottom nears its final furlong.
What a surprise! Remember this is a competition to elect their leader by members of the Conservative Party and he and Truss are saying what those people want to hear.
Yep, just dog whistle nonsense. A demonstration of bad judgement and irresponsibility in the climate crisis.
Of course there must be change. It's not a war just that many motorists believe 100 years of Automotive and Big Oil propaganda so need strong encouragement.
Including his party's teenagers, it seems: revealed recently that party members are allowed to vote for the leader from the age of fifteen onwards, ergo our next Prime Minister will, in part, be chosen by children ineligible to vote. If that's democracy I'm a banana.
Straight or bent?
Depends on the weather and the time of day, mostly...
Straight for shopping, 'bent for pleasure.
EDIT - make pic less massive!
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