DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Labour’s plans are pure highway robbery
Labour likes to claim it’s on the side of hardworking people. However, its treatment of motorists shows it regards them with nothing but disdain.
First came London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s hated Ulez expansion scheme, a pernicious stealth tax on those who can least afford it.
Now Labour’s Welsh government will roll out blanket 20mph speed zones across the country – yet another cash cow masquerading as a public health service.
Wales’s Corbynite First Minister Mark Drakeford, who has turned the principality into a laboratory for crackpot socialist ideas, insists his mass, virtue-signalling experiment will save lives.
In fact, there is every reason to believe the scheme will result in more accidents, not fewer. Drivers looking to avoid being caught out by speed cameras are more likely to be distracted by their speedometer. Meanwhile, slow traffic will prompt more overtaking, putting more road users at risk.
First came London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s hated Ulez expansion scheme, a pernicious stealth tax on those who can least afford it
Moreover, the financial implications are set to be disastrous. Even the Welsh government’s own assessments predict it could hit the economy by an eye-watering £9billion. Faced with such calamity, it’s hard to disagree with Welsh Secretary David TC Davies, who describes Mr Drakeford’s plans as ‘beyond insane’.
Of course, nobody wants reckless driving, particularly in their neighbourhood.
Implementing 20mph limits around schools and other built-up areas is perfectly sensible.
But voters aren’t stupid. They know a money spinner when they see one – as demonstrated by the furious backlash in recent weeks against Ulez.
If Rishi Sunak had any sense, he would take this opportunity to put some clear blue water between the two parties and call out this deranged ploy for what it really is: Highway robbery.
Starmer’s all at sea
After months of trashing the Government, Sir Keir Starmer this week finally announced Labour’s big idea to stop the small boats crossing the channel.
His bold strategy: Accept thousands more migrants from the EU in the vain hope that Brussels will graciously allow us to send back some of those with no legitimate right to be here.
Yet for all the fanfare surrounding the launch of his proposals, it’s difficult to find anyone with a kind word to say about them. The Labour-supporting unions have condemned them, as have Left-leaning charities. Even some of Sir Keir’s own backbenchers are reported to think the plans unworkable.
Meanwhile, his so-called friends in the European Union, whom he must have assumed would greet his offer of closer co-operation with open arms, have slammed his approach as ‘delusional’.
Sir Keir cockily insists he is ‘taking control’ of the immigration situation. But if he can’t even convince his own supporters to back his plans, what chance does he have with the rest of the country?
Sunak shows his steel
The move will not only secure future of Tata’s Port Talbot steelworks but also thousands of jobs across the industry
For Britain to have any meaningful industrial strategy, a thriving steel industry remains crucial.
It is vital component for defence, building and all manner of manufacturing. If we can’t make our own, we are at the mercy of foreign markets.
So two cheers, then, for the Prime Minister for putting together a £500million support package for Tata Steel that will help it transition to greener, more efficient production methods.
The move will not only secure future of Tata’s Port Talbot steelworks but also thousands of jobs across the industry.
That said, the deal represents a vast investment. All concerned must now ensure this will be money well spent.
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