He has been by far the most effective politician in this

He has been by far the most effective politician in this EU campaign.”Finally, UKIP has none of the bad odours of the BNP. Who you rather have dinner with: Robert Kilroy-Silk or Nick Griffin?”. Tony Blair won a series of concessions yesterday in his battle to keep the national veto on tax and foreign policy in the EU’s proposed new constitution, improving the prospects of a deal at a summit this week. Too much of the plan did not deliver the substantial change that industry and the public were hoping for, the business organisation said in its transport spending submission.The Government was at a “crucial crossroads” on transport, with decisions imminent on aviation and rail as well as the wider Whitehall spending review, the CBI said.On roads, the CBI called for the Government to make tackling congestion a priority, because delays were costing the economy £20bn a year.

“The scale of transport spending business is asking for would be a relatively small price to pay to deliver to the fourth-largest economy in the world the transport system it deserves.”. Priorities for business included the M1, M6 and M25, the submission said.On rail, the CBI recommended a focus on greater reliability and capacity for the key passenger and freight routes.”We are not calling on the Government to break the bank,” Mr Jones said. The original 10-year plan was full of promise but, four years and £50bn later, there remain profound deficiencies in the UK transport system. The catalogue of transport nightmares gets ever longer.”Mr Jones said the Government’s transport plan had clearly stalled and there was growing frustration about the lack of improvement. “We have a first-rate economy and it deserves a first-rate transport system, not the substandard infrastructure that is currently letting down the whole country,” he said.”The government was bold in 2000 and committed to a long-term strategy – a welcome change for politicians. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI), which has been a prominent ally of the Government on transport policy, said a mixture of public and private investment was required over the next 10 years, because business and public patience was becoming exhausted by the “slow pace” of improvements under existing arrangements.The £180bn originally earmarked for the Government’s 10-year plan should be increased by at least £70bn, Digby Jones, director general of the CBI, said. Ministers contend, however, that transport not only needs to be managed in the short-term, it desperately needs a longer-term vision.Fresh criticism of the Government’s existing policies came yesterday from business leaders, who warned that £250bn was needed to address “profound deficiencies” in the transport system.

It is believed that the latter can be improved substantially in the short term at a relatively low cost. A “measured” approach to motorway building will also be set out.The strategy document, scheduled to be published next month, is designed to boost the Government’s reputation for developing the transport system ahead of a possible general election next spring. The idea of north-south services similar to the TGV in France, has been shelved for the short term, but ministers believe it should from part of their “vision of the future”.It is also understood that nation-wide plans for the introduction of congestion charging in cities and on motorways will be set out, given the perceived success of the toll system in central London.The 30-year plan will encourage the widespread introduction of light rail systems and fresh initiatives to improve local bus services. Ministers are drawing up an unprecedented 30-year strategy for transport despite criticism that they have not met targets set in their 10-year plan.
The news emerged yesterday as employers told the Government that there were “profound deficiencies” in Britain’s transport system four years after the 10-year plan was launched. At least £70bn extra was needed to sort it out, they said.Among the projects to be included in the new long-term document is expected to be a dedicated high-speed railway between London and the North, integrated with the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. They could deprive us of our majority,” he told The Observer..

“These people who think they get a free hit will find themselves with a rude shock and a Tory MP. “He will stay as leader as long as it is in the interest of the party and the public,” he said.But Peter Hain, the Leader of the Commons, warned that Labour supporters who had voted for the Liberal Democrats in protest over Iraq could cost the party dearly at the next general election. This is a situation where, as we had before, [Michael] Howard has got 38 per cent. They have had good results before as they’ve seen it and then gone on to lose the election,” he told BBC1’s Breakfast with Frost.Calling on Labour to “keep our nerve”, the Deputy Prime Minister said the general election would be dominated by issues such as health, education and the economy. Lord Falconer of Thoroton, the Lord Chancellor, predicted that Mr Blair would serve a full third term if Labour retains power ­ even though many MPs expect him to stand down during the next parliament.