Lib Dems make drive for road-user pricing to cut UK congestion

During the Lib Dem party conference in Blackpool, transport spokesman Tom Brake called on the Transport Secretary to bring in comprehensive road-user pricing and scrap vehicle excise duty and fuel tax. He produced figures that showed that traffic on England's roads had risen by 11 per cent since Labour came to power in 1997 despite government promises to cut it.

Mr Brake said that road-user pricing as an alternative to car and fuel tax would encourage drivers to use less congested roads and times in making their journey and to use public transport. He said:

"The UK has the dubious honour of having the most congested roads in Europe. We find ourselves in a situation where our high streets come to a virtual standstill, our motorways are at a crawling pace."

Later, former Scottish Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace told the conference they must be ambitious to govern. He admitted that forming part of the coalition that ran the Scottish Executive had meant tough choices and difficult decisions.

But Mr Wallace - who on three occasions stood in as First Minister - said the party had major achievements to its name.

The Orkney MSP said: "I remain ambitious for this party to be a party of government - in Scotland, in Wales, at Westminster - because it is in government that you can do most to improve people's lives.

"It is in government that you can do most to advance liberal democracy."