The airport’s passenger charges have trebled over the past decade. That bill should come down, or else competitors abroad will steal a march on the UK.
The Government must always stand up to businesses’ excesses, without losing sight of the huge benefits that partnerships have brought.
It is hard to appoint more women to Cabinet when there are few senior women to promote. We count only four at Minister of State level.
It would be wrong, and fruitless, to try to ape Labour by denying the clear improvements delivered since the end of British Rail.
Since my last article, there has been real progress to improve rail funding overall. Next we should consider how to reduce uncertainty within the supply chain.
There are also questions for the Department of Transport about funding schemes that have led to more accidents.
The proposal is criticised for hitting the vulnerable and breaking an election pledge. Local transport schemes are also being hit.
The train companies have done a good job – the delays are usually caused by the state owned Network Rail which is responsible for the tracks.
Scaling back expensive regulation would allow the cabbies to make the most of their comparative advantages such as the Knowledge and their iconic status.
Safety has improved but the financial as well as human cost of crashes remains high. A new online tool shows where work is most needed.
The “Cycle Superhighway” would increase air pollution, harm business, and inconvenience pedestrians, bus passengers and drivers. Even for cyclists it is poor value for £70 million.
Gone is the Conservative certainty of reducing taxes to promote businesses’ own investment and growth.
It is not especially low tax, nor is it unregulated – though it is certainly a more business-friendly environment then the UK. Here is why it works.
The lack of a Conservative Commons majority prevented the Chancellor from doing much more than playing it safe – which he did effectively.
Transport for the North can now set its own priorities and make its own plans – but Westminster must devolve more powers to allow it to reach its full potential.