Off the rails

At times, this appears to be the party's only coherent transport

policy; Theresa Villiers, the Shadow Transport Secretary, certainly has no clear ideas on easing rush-hour congestion in the major urban areas outside London.

Even high-speed rail, however, does not appear to be immune from the pre-election policy muddle now engulfing the Tories.

Having declined the opportunity to see an advance copy of a major

report on this issue – the Conservatives evidently do not want to damage its electoral prospects in some key marginal seats – Ms Villiers has reaffirmed her thoughts.

In short, she says the only "concrete, costed commitment" that her party will offer voters is a line from London to Birmingham, Manchester and then on to Leeds.

It raises three questions. It's no good for the Shadow Minister to

claim that the Tories have a "bigger vision" because the Government's plans only extend to Birmingham. That may be so, but how does she

intend to finance the Conservative plan?

Second, the decision of Ms Villiers to speak out so candidly in advance of the Government report suggests that the issue is being used for political pointscoring when a cross-party consensus is essential.

And, thirdly, any suggestion that the North West will receive a high-speed link before to this region runs contrary to this newspaper's Fast Track To Yorkshire campaign which the Tories embraced.

If Yorkshire is not to be left behind from an economic perspective, it cannot afford to play second fiddle to areas like Manchester which have already benefited from the upgrade of the West Coast Main Line (and at this region's expense). Does Ms Villiers agree? We deserve to be told.