Britain’s economic recovery will be hamstrung by a hung parliament if it leads to a government more concerned with electoral reform than investment in infrastructure, warns the Freight Transport Association (FTA).
James Hookham, managing director of policy and communications for the FTA, said: “Whoever ends up with the keys to number 10, they must keep their eyes on what really matters to the economy. Transport is a key part of the recovery and it is essential that the next government, whatever its make-up, sees the transport portfolio as a high priority responsibility.
“Our fear is that transport will be used as a political football during this period of horse trading. This would be a mistake. Transport must not be the toy that is used to keep the kids happy while the grown-ups get on with running the country.”
The logistics sector employs eight per cent of the UK’s workforce and contributes around £100 billion each year to the UK economy.
Hookham concluded: “There are some crunch issues on transport that the next government will need to grapple with - infrastructure investment, climate change and capacity improvements. These will require serious and dedicated attention at the heart of government and this must be reflected in the priority transport is given in whatever transpires from the current negotiations.”
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