Labour embraces haulage
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• A leaked document outlining the Labour Party's plans for transport into the next century suggests it is becoming friendlier towards the haulage industry. The consultative document gives a number of broad policy statements designed to reduce congestion and improve roadside facilities.
Labour's proposals include a national network of truckstops, increased use of laybys as service areas, and the abolition of the Government's private-sector road schemes.
Most ambitiously, Labour aims to stabilise national traffic levels by 2010 and get them back down to 1990 levels by 2020. This would entail radical changes to transport investment and taxation.
The party says that shadow Transport Secretary Clare Short is working on Labour's transport policy for the next general election. This plan, which will supersede the leaked document, is due out on 18 May. But Labour insiders say while the emphasis in the new document will be different, the broad principles will remain the same.
This recent policy shift suggests Labour's long-held antilorry stance is changing, but its long term objective is still to time freight from road to rail.
. Transport policies, page 52.