Transport - manifesto commitments 2015

February 2015

Dods Monitoring

Introduction

Most of us use some form of transport as we go about our day-to-day lives, yet the issue of transport is rarely con-sidered a top priority for voters when it comes to casting their vote.

Despite this, transport expenditure decisions have an impact across swathes of government policy, in areas includ-ing infrastructure investment, environmental aims, and wider economic growth.

Long-term transport infrastructure has been prevalent in the 2010—2015 Parliament, with the High Speed 2 rail pro-ject receiving cross-party support from the front-bench teams.

With talk of a ‘Northern Powerhouse’, which includes the concept of a third high speed rail link, infrastructure in-vestment is set to continue as a significant issue in the next Parliament. This, alongside greater devolution within England, to allow local areas to determine key priorities including transport, will be a key part of the transport agen-da for the next five years.

Sir Howard Davies’ airport commission is set to report in the summer, shortly after the election, and as such airport expansion will be an early test of mettle for the next government.

Meanwhile, autonomous vehicles have begun testing on British roads for the first time, with government funding to test the technology. The trials are set to finish during the next Parliament, so any further steps in supporting this technology may be taken by the next set of legislators elected in May.

By James Sloan Political Consultant

Labour

Railways

Shadow transport secretary Michael Dugher has said that the public sector would be running sections of the rail net-

work “as soon as we can do that.” The party wants to promote a new oversight body which would bring Network

Rail and a passenger body together, to put rail users at the heart of the service. The body would have powers over

contract routes, coordinate services, oversee stations, plan new rolling stock, raise skills and be accountable for cus-

tomer satisfaction.

On fares, Labour would introduce a simplified structure, which would include a legal right for passengers to access

the cheapest ticket available. The party would also abolish the flexibility of rail companies to vary fares by over and

above the current fare formula of RPI plus one per cent.

Further reading , here and here

Labour position on HS2

Local bus services

Labour would allow not-for-profit operators to take charge of community bus services. The party would devolve

power to enable local authorities to award licences to operators, which would in turn make it easier for non-profit

making groups to run services, and decide on issues such as fares and routes, and allow local authorities to create

integrated train, bus and tram networks.

Further reading, here and here.

Liberal Democrat position

Roads

Labour would ban ‘stealth’ speed cameras, arguing that all speed cameras should be painted bright yellow.

Further reading

Conservatives

The Conservatives are likely to continue promoting the economic benefits of infrastructure investment, with sup-

port for HS2, and rail track electrification, should they remain in office after May.

Roads

The £15bn road investment strategy, criticised by some as a “pre-election stunt,” has received plaudits for setting

out longer term spending plans for the road network, which has provided some additional stability for future fund-

ing, through the establishment of Highways England., with five year spending periods.

Further reading

Railways

Plans to press ahead with HS3 would see a cut in journey times between northern cities, whilst continuing the pro-

gramme of rail electrification roll-out. The party have indicated support for additional rail capacity including a new

dedicated rail franchise for Devon and Cornwall, whilst confirming the roll out of free Wi-Fi on trains from 2017.

Further reading, here and here

Conservative position on HS2

Labour view on railways

Liberal Democrat

Spending the last five years in coalition, the party has had a minister in the Department for Transport for the dura-

tion. The Liberal Democrats head into the 2015 election arguing for the promotion of “clean green transport”.

Green Transport Act

Set to be put before delegates at their Spring Conference, this act would set a target for all rail routes to be electri-

fied by 2030. That year would also see a target for every new bus and taxi manufactured is an Ultra Low Emission

vehicle, whilst banning high emission vehicles from the road by 2040.

Further reading

Green Party position

Bus and rail franchising

Echoing the Labour Party policy, Minister of State for Transport, Baroness Kramer has argued that plans for fran-

chising would “give passengers an even better deal than they’ve got now.”

During the 2014 conference, the party also agreed to allow public sector bids for train franchises.

Further reading and here

Labour Party position

High Speed 2 The High Speed Rail (London—West Midlands) Bill Committee will continue to meet in the new Parliament, hearing

from those with concerns about the roll-out of the new HS2 rail network. Despite the critics, the larger political par-

ties remain broadly supportive of the project, with some exceptions.

Conservative Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has been a key figure in supporting the Bill

and highlighting the merits of additional capacity - both for passengers and freight - that the

route will bring to the rail network. The Conservatives however have voluble critics of the

scheme on the backbenches.

Like their coalition partners, the Liberal Democrats have been supportive of the project, with

transport minister Baroness Kramer espousing the benefits of the project in the Lords. Although

no Lib Dem MPs have voted against the Bill, 17 MPs were absent from crucial votes.

Initially drawn up by the party during their last period in office, the party remains supportive of

the project. Labour have highlighted that 33,000 apprenticeships could be offered from HS2

alone.

UKIP favour the scrapping of HS2, with leader Nigel Farage calling it "undesirable, unwanted and

unloved." UKIP MP, Mark Reckless initially voted for HS2, and argued there should be a link be-

tween HS1 and HS2.

Whilst supportive of high speed rail in principle, the Green Party is against HS2. The party leader

Natalie Bennett, standing for election in Holborn and St Pancras, has argued that it could have

“detrimental effects” on Camden, and predicted that the line will never be built.

The SNP has been supportive of high speed rail but have called for the line to be ex-

tended to Scotland, whilst Plaid Cymru have called for greater rail line electrification

in Wales, arguing that HS2 is an England-only project, and has economically disad-

vantages Wales.

Airports Commission

One of the first challenges the new government will face after the election is how to respond to the report by Sir Howard Davies on the proposals for additional runway capacity at either Heathrow or Gatwick.

Whilst both Labour and the Conservatives have agreed in principle to respect the outcome of the Commission, there are fears that an uncertain outcome could jeopardise a speedy response to the findings.

Ed Miliband had previously opposed a third runway at Heathrow, but shadow chancellor, Ed Balls said that a National Infrastructure Commission would “end dither and delay” on large-scale projects.

The Liberal Democrats oppose expansion at Heathrow as it would not meet the environmental cri-teria set out by the party. The issue was put to a vote at the party conference in Autumn 2014, which would have — in theory — allowed the party to support expansion at other sites, such as Stansted or Gatwick. However the issue was voted down by party members.

Some London Conservative MPs have been vocal over their opposition to additional runway capaci-ty at Heathrow, whilst senior figures have also raised concerns including Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, and Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.

UKIP oppose a new runway at Heathrow , whilst the SNP have in the past argued that the focus on

airport expansion in the South East was too narrow.

The Green Party believe that “endless growth” in aviation capacity in unsustainable.

Alongside their commitment to scrap HS2, the party opposes road tolls, and would allow existing

contracts for running toll roads to expire. UKIP propose that foreign vehicles would have to have a

‘Britdisc’ in order to contribute to the cost of upkeep on roads.

Further reading

UKIP position on HS2

The Green’s are the only party committed to full rail renationalisation. The party would scrap the building of new

roads, investing the savings in subsidies for public transport fares.

Further reading and here

Green Party position on HS2

Two transport issues will dominate the start of the next Parliament—HS2 and the airports commission recommen-

dations.

Within transport, much consensus exists across the larger parties, particularly in the development of large-scale

projects.

Business leaders have indicated that political parties must embrace the findings of the final report by Sir Howard

Davies on airport expansion, and act quickly.

With no firm date for the completion of the High Speed Rail (London—West Midlands) Bill, whether it is Labour or

the Conservatives who are the largest party after May, both parties are determined to get the project off the

ground.

The devolution of transport responsibilities within England, as part of handing greater responsibilities to city re-

gions, is likely to continue in the next Parliament.

The wider economic climate will also have a bearing upon the transport sector, particularly in relation to motorists.

Issues such as falling fuel prices have benefited drivers in the past few months, but whether these will continue

after the election, only time will tell.

UKIP

Green Party

Conclusion

This briefing document has been compiled by James Sloan, a political consultant on the Dods Monitoring team who specialises in transport. For further information about the content of this briefing please contact the author at James.Sloan@dods.co.uk or 0207 593 5718