Conservative members are to be challenged to dump their ‘motorist’s friend’ policies and back a narrowing of the gap between the cost of motoring and the cost of public transport.
Steven Norris, charged with overhauling Conservative transport policy, this week noted that his party had once been dubbed ‘the provisional wing of the AA,’ and suggested a shift of taxation worth tens of billions to encourage people to use cars less.
He plans to narrow the growing gap between the relative cost of motoring – down 11% in the last 30 years – and bus travel – up 66% – and train travel – up 70%).
Institution of Highways and Transportation director of technical affairs, John Smart, welcomed Norris’s ‘taking a long-term view’, but AA Motoring Trust head of environment Ruth Bridger expressed dismay at Norris’s remarks, and noted that recent rising fuel prices had not discouraged driving.
The transport policy working party’s final recommendations are due to be debated at this autumn’s party conference.