Rescuing
Democracy in the United Kingdom from our current Elected
Dictatorship
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Spin, not
face-to-face confrontations with the voters, is the Government's
chosen method of communication. Ordinary
people are dangerous. Ordinary people might ask a question
which throws a politician 'off message'; the Cabinet member
might reveal himself or herself to be a human being like
us, and not a programmed android. Worse still, he or she
might tell the truth.
Ann Leslie - Daily Mail, September
16, 2004
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The
Blair Government has borrowed another Conservative proposal to
tackle road congestion and increase safety on Britain's overcrowded
roads. Ministers have floated the idea of earmarking some motorway
lanes for cars carrying at least two people, in an attempt to
speed up rush hour traffic and cut pollution.
But
the plan was originally put forward by Conservatives - and slapped
down by the Prime Minister and his Labour Cabinet and MPs.
Under
new proposals, Transport Secretary Alistair Darling, is set to
announce that the outside lane, or alternatively the hard shoulder,
of some busy motorways would be reserved for drivers of high occupancy
vehicles. Lone drivers who enter such lanes in a bid to beat queues
would face fines up to
£100.
While
he welcomed the scheme, Shadow Transport Minister Damian Green
said: "We have been suggesting for months that high occupancy
vehicles should be given special treatment in some areas to encourage
car sharing."
Mr
Green cautioned that each scheme would need to have its practicality
checked, but added: "There are no problems with the principle
of car sharing. It is puzzling, however, that when we suggested
this during the Traffic Management Bill for roads in towns, the
Government voted it down. We are happy to continue to provide
the Government with transport policy ideas until after the election
when we will be able to introduce them ourselves."
