We’ve heard from Labour and the Lib Dems, and now it’s the turn of the Conservatives who gather in
Gordon Brown last week suggested that the Tories’ brand of free market capitalism would spell further disaster for the economy, so it will be interesting to see what they have to say about the big infrastructure projects and investment in manufacturing that is surely essential for sustainable growth.
Shadow business secretary Ken Clarke will be sketching out his blueprint for industry tomorrow afternoon, while this afternoon’s fringe debate ‘Keeping Britain Moving: The future of our transport networks’ might also provide an interesting perspective on what the conservative party thinks of high speed rail.
Meanwhile, tomorrow will provide further proof of whether the policies of the current administration are helping things, when the SMMT releases the latest set of
Jon Excell, Deputy Editor
With regard to UK railways, it was the Conservative government who instigated the electrification of the East Coast Main Line with brand new trains. The same for the Channel Tunnel Rail link, and the West Coast Main Line as fully electrified railways. The fact that the latter two overlapped into the present Labour government is sometimes forgotten. In addition, the latest suggestion from the Labour government is to use part electrification of the main line railway from Paddington in London to Wales, and then use hyrbid trains. Still wondering who has made the better commitment to rail travel in the UK? The stumbling block that the next government will face is the economic disaster instigated through New Labour. This may prove to be the ultimate limiting factor as to what can, and cannot be done.