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UKIP decries railway network as "laughing stock" and vows to bear down on motoring costs

Lee Baker
29 September 2014
UKIP has an opportunity to win its first members of parliament
UKIP has an opportunity to win its first members of parliament

 

UKIP used its conference to both set out how scrapping HS2 would allow it to prioritise "our woefully under-funded conventional railways," and to vow to spike the electric car subsidy "for the wealthy".

Jill Seymour, UKIP MEP for the West Midlands, set out UKIP positions on transport at the conference as the party fights to gain its first members of parliament in two by-elections. Seymour not only attacked HS2 as "a disgraceful miscarriage of justice," she said "our existing rail network remains something of a laughing stock in other parts of the developed world".

"Most of us will never use HS2, but we will still be obligated to pay for it - £1,400 pounds for every hard-working family in the country."

Seymour also attacked the Government policy she described as "giving free electricity to charge their electric cars... to some of the wealthiest people in the land". She decried the Government's £400m charging points programme, and £5,000 subsidy for anyone buying a new electric vehicle.

"It's time to pull the plug... turn off the switch... short circuit this madness. The benefits of electrically-driven vehicles should stand for themselves. If people want them, they should pay for them." She said that disposable incomes were falling, and added:  "motoring costs need to be brought under control... most modern families cannot function without a car... it is not a luxury, but a necessity".

But she added: "Not everyone can afford a new car, millions of us rely every day on public transport. For pensioners and disabled people, access to free or concessionary bus travel is a vital lifeline, preventing them from being isolated. UKIP will keep concessionary bus passes."

 

Specialist Transport Services Manager
Warrington Borough Council
Warrington
GRADE 13 (£58,797 - £63,735)
Specialist Transport Services Manager
Warrington Borough Council
Warrington
GRADE 13 (£58,797 - £63,735)
Specialist Transport Services Manager
Warrington Borough Council
Warrington
GRADE 13 (£58,797 - £63,735)
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