Labour 'comes up with all sorts of excuses' as crucial transport projects cancelled

Labour's transport strategy has been torn apart by the shadow transport secretary over "ideological" opposition to crucial schemes. Richard Holden, Tory MP for Basildon and Billericay, said: "The truth is, there are really a load of projects I'd love to see built. What I worry about more than anything else is ideological opposition. We've seen that in Wales already. We've seen the ideological opposition to any new road building in Wales, and that's what I worry is creeping in the Labour Party. People like Ed Miliband. They come up with all sorts of excuses, but, actually, the opposition is really ideological."

Specifically, Kemi Badenoch's transport chief mentioned the A303 bypass, which was cancelled in July last year after the cost for its preparatory work would rise to £179.2million by December 2024. The UK needs other "vital road schemes", he added, linking large parts of the country. Away from roads, it seems that improvements to track and signalling at Ely and Haughley junctions - major intersections for both passenger and freight traffic in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire - have been "deprioritised", Mr Holden claimed.

The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, also axed the planned A27 Arundel Bypass, as well as a programme to bring disused railways back into service.

Mr Holden also highlighted the scrapping of the nationwide £2 bus fare cap last year.

At the time, ministers emphasised that "under the plans of the previous administration, funding for the current cap on bus fares had been due to expire at the end of 2024".

"I think for me, and for most people, I don't think transport is ideological," the shadow transport secretary said.

"I think transport is something we should do whatever we can to get our country moving."

Instead, the Government is listening to its "union paymasters" too much, Mr Holden alleged.

In June, the Chancellor announced £15billion for transport projects.

Ms Reeves said the cash will be spent on tram, train, and bus projects in authorities across the Midlands, the North, and the West Country.

A total £2billion was assigned to design a new mass transit system to connect Derby and Nottingham, for example, "encompassing road, rail and bus improvements across the Trent Arc corridor".

In a speech in Greater Manchester, she spoke of "a Britain that is better off cannot rely on a handful of places forging ahead of the rest of the country", adding that the "result of such thinking has been growth created in too few places, felt by too few people and wide gaps between regions, and between our cities and towns".