UK election: a motorist's guide to the leading parties

HOW WILL YOU ENCOURAGE THE UPTAKE OF LOW-EMISSIONS VEHICLES?

Conservatives:

Since 2011 we have committed more than £2 billion to help a range of vehicles reduce emissions. Our 2017 manifesto pledges: “Our ambition is for Britain to lead the world in electric vehicle technology and use. We want almost every car and van to be zero-emission by 2050.”

Labour:

We would boost investment in the Office for Low Emission Vehicles to facilitate the uptake of automated and ultralow-emissions vehicles. We would also introduce legislation to help facilitate the uptake of ULEVs, such as introducing measures to standardise charge-points.

Lib Dems:

As part of the scrappage scheme we would provide incentives for switching to low-emissions vehicles. We would also introduce universal charging points to make charging far easier, and create more ultra-low-emission zones in towns and cities.

WHAT'S YOUR POLICY ON SPEED CAMERAS?

Conservatives:

Cameras should be visible and only be used for safety rather than revenue raising. The government has an ongoing programme to ensure that speed cameras are coloured yellow, so they are clearly visible.

Labour:

They will continue to play an important role in keeping motorists and pedestrians safe – and this should be the purpose of speed cameras. It is unfair for speed cameras to be used as a backdoor means of revenue collection.

Lib Dems:

Keeping people safe on our roads is fundamental. Speed cameras are an important part of providing deterrents to those driving at speeds that are not safe.

WHAT'S YOUR POLICY ON MANAGING TRAFFIC?

Conservatives:

We want to address the Labour government’s legacy of road humps, pinch points and poorly managed traffic lights that create congestion and pollution. Designing out and removing such obstructions can improve air quality and traffic flow.

Labour:

We will strive for a transport network with zero deaths. We will reintroduce road safety targets and establish an incident review unit to monitor road incidents. Road and infrastructure design and maintenance will be rooted in road safety for all road users.

Lib Dems:

We support more controls for local authorities over traffic management and enforcement, particularly in relation to the use of bus lanes, and put amendments down to the Bus Services Bill in the House of Lords to that effect, to encourage more bus use.

WHAT'S YOUR POLICY ON AUTONOMOUS CARS TESTING ON PUBLIC ROADS?

Conservatives:

We are leading the world in preparing for autonomous vehicles and will press ahead with our plans to use digital technology to improve our railways, so that our roads and tracks can carry more people more safely and more efficiently.

Labour:

We fully support it. We would look to bring forward legislation on the development and use of automated vehicles, including addressing insurance issues and consulting widely with the industry in order to ensure we put in place the most effective measures possible.

Lib Dems:

We are excited by the prospect and the improvements in this technology. Of course, these cars need to be tested in realistic settings to ensure they stand up to the greatest tests, but only when it is safe to do so and guided by industry and local authorities.

WHAT'S YOUR STANCE ON SUPPORTING/ENCOURAGING UK CAR MANUFACTURING?

Conservatives:

We have already demonstrated that in advanced manufacturing, such as aero and automotive engineering, we can lead the world. We will continue to support these key industries so that they can grow further.

Labour:

We will prioritise a Brexit deal that supports our automotive industry as part of a broader strategy of ensuring that the automotive sector has the skills and receives the support necessary to develop the cars of the future, that are safer, cleaner and UK-built. 

Lib Dems:

Changes are already taking place for a shift to cleaner energy to run our vehicles but this must become more widespread. Brexit creates great uncertainty for car manufacturers and it is a real threat that many could relocate away from the UK.

WHAT'S YOUR POLICY ON FUEL TAX?

Conservatives:

We will always be the party that keeps tax as low as possible and spends the proceeds responsibly. From 2020/21, all revenue raised from Vehicle Excise Duty in England will be allocated to a new Roads Fund and invested directly back into the strategic road network.

Labour:

The Conservatives’ changes to VED were poorly thought through and rightly criticised. We will make sure VED better supports the uptake of ultra-low-emission vehicles as well as investment in our local roads, helping to tackle the repairs backlog.

Lib Dems:

We have expressed concern at the rising costs of fuel due to Brexit and would like to see greater transparency in how and where our taxes are spent. Better funding is needed for local government to tackle local roads which have been badly neglected in the financial squeeze.

WOULD YOU BUILD NEW MOTORWAYS?

Conservatives:

We will continue to develop the strategic road network, providing extra lanes on our motorways and improving key routes while also paying attention to parts of the country left behind because of poor transport connections. We will continue to invest in roads to fix pinch points.

Labour:

We would. Labour will deliver continued investment in our strategic road network and we will instruct the National Infrastructure Commission to make an assessment of where future investment should be targeted in order to rebalance the economy throughout the country.

Lib Dems:

We have no plans to build new motorways but we would invest in improving our current infrastructure as we have many roads in poor condition and councils that don’t have enough money for basic maintenance like fixing potholes.

SHOULD VW HAVE GREATER SANCTIONS APPLIED FOLLOWING DIESELGATE?