MANIFESTLY LACKING
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Heying trouble deciding who to vote for? Need more information on the rival parties' policies—but don't have the time to find it? Relax, Commercial Motor's patent Universal Manifesto Magnifier reveals the facts in a flash. First off, value for money. For cash-strapped hauliers our advice is buy Labour's: "Because Britain deserves better"; a snip at just £1.99, compared with the Tories' "You can only be sure with the Conservatives" at £2.00. The Lib Denis are definitely getting a taste of high taxation with "Make the difference" at 22.45. But what do they say about road transport? For sheer paucity of content you'd be hard-pressed to beat the Conservatives (no change there then). Apart from a great deal of waffle on railways, the best it can manage is: "We recognise the needs of road users. We will tackle road congestion by introducing regional traffic control centres, by extending the use of variable speed limits and by ensuring that local authorities have the necessary powers to act." But what of the role of central Government? "Competition and enterprise are the best way to improve our transport system." Let's face it, it's proved a runaway success so far.. .As for heavier lorries, "new" Labour says it remains "unpersuaded by the case for 44-tonne lorries mooted by the Conservatives" (though certainly not in their manifesto). "Our concern is that they would prove dangerous and damaging to the environment," say the Blairites. CM's concern is that the average voter will believe all that tosh. And so to the Lib Dem's pledge to "treble the freight carried on Britain's railways by 2010...to encourage more fuel-efficient cars.. .to introduce a carbon tax on fossil fuels." Who's going to pay for it all? Political pundits recommend you look at each party's manifesto's before deciding who to vote for. But if you're a truck operator, save your time and money—there's bugger all in any of them for you.