Former conservative secretary of state, John Hummer, called Labour plans to introduce a national body –Infrastructure UK – as ‘just another quango, walking around the country telling people what to do.’

He said he ‘totally believed in localism’ and found it ‘offensive’ that such a policy could be viewed as a creating a nation of NIMBY-ists.

In response to Labour spokesman Colin Challen’s comment that ‘national interest trumps local interest’, he said: ‘Although there must be a degree of national interest, I believe the best place to start is localism.’
Elaborating on the theme, he said ‘a local plan worked out through consultation with parish councils and local communities is then developed and taken to the secretary of state’.
Liberal democrat spokeswoman Lorely Burt agreed with him saying ‘if you can convince them it is a good idea, they will take it on.’