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Byers but the butt for Government transport failure
28 May 2002
BYERS NOT THE PROBLEM, SAYS FRIENDS OF THE EARTH
Stephen Byers is no more than a scapegoat for the failure of Government transport policy, environment pressure group Friends of the Earth warned today.
Commenting on news of the Transport Secretary's resignation, FOE Director Charles Secrett said:
"Stephen Byers has fallen on his sword. But that will not take one car off the road. It will not sort out the crisis on our railways. It will not create a decent transport policy from the under-funded shambles that is the 10 year Transport Plan.
New Labour has broken its promises to cut road traffic levels. And in the last few days in response to the devastating attack from the Transport Select Committee Ministers have made explicit what we have long suspected - that they will do nothing that might offend the most backward elements in the car and roads lobby.
What matters is not who fills the role of sacrificial lamb at the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions, but new policies and new money to pay for them. Government failures in transport policy are every bit as much the responsibility of the Prime Minister and Chancellor as they are of Stephen Byers. If he is to blame, so are they. This may be their last chance to put matters right."
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jun 2008
