The Green Party's Deputy Leader Rachel Millward said she was not aware of the party's policy to reduce motorway speed limits to 55mph, according to the Daily Mail. The party plans to reduce motorway speed limits from 70mph to 55mph, increase road fuel tax incrementally, steadily reduce parking spaces, require drivers to re-take their driving test every five years, and state that driving is a privilege, not a right. The Daily Mail reported that the Green Party will conduct a sweeping review of its policies after the newspaper exposed controversial plans. A Green official said: "Right now it's like we've got a list of policies for the Daily Mail to ring us up about." Party leader Zack Polanski said: "Our policy making process came about when we had something like 20,000 members. We just hit 226,000, so in terms of how the conference process works, I think the obvious place I would start is - it's not working as well as it should at the moment." A Green source said: "But generally there's an awareness that perhaps it's time to review how these things work and what the current policies are."
Other controversial Green Party policies have also been earmarked for review, according to the Daily Mail. These include immigration policy, which reportedly gives illegal migrants a free house and wage with no work requirement, plans to legalize all drugs including heroin and crack cocaine, and drastic cuts to Britain's armed forces and scrapping the nuclear deterrent. However, the Daily Mail reported that the party's drug policy reform is still strongly supported by the leadership and will not be reviewed. The transport policy, including motorway speed limit reduction and re-testing every five years, is among those set to be reviewed. It remains unclear when the review will take place and what specific policies will be changed.
I am not aware of that policy. It may or may not be one of our policies chosen by members which goes through a conference process and is then voted in. I am not sure about that.
The Green Party's transport policy details have been reported by the Daily Mail. The party plans to reduce motorway speed limits from 70mph to 55mph, increase road fuel tax incrementally, steadily reduce parking spaces, require drivers to re-take their driving test every five years, and state that driving is a privilege, not a right. The party's policy-making process involves members proposing and voting on policies at conference, but the exact process for changes is unclear.
In contrast, the Conservative Party and Restore Britain have proposed alternative transport policies. According to The Independent, the Conservative Party plans to review and end blanket 20mph speed limits, restoring 30mph where limits are widely ignored. The Conservative Party's Plan for Drivers includes allowing motorbikes to use bus lanes by default and preventing councils from making bus lanes active at all times without ministerial permission. Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden said: "This will drive up costs for working families and bring the country to a standstill. It is completely out of touch with how people live. Only the Conservatives will stand up for drivers, protect your freedom to move, and keep Britain moving." Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: "Labour only see drivers as a cash cow. Hiking fuel duty in a global oil crisis. 20mph roads. Banning petrol and diesel cars. Keir Starmer wants to make drivers' lives as difficult as possible. The Conservatives are different. We understand that hardworking families and businesses need their cars and we have a plan to ensure we get Britain moving again." Holden added: "Under Labour, you wait six months to take your test, pay through the nose at the pump, crawl through blanket 20mph zones the council never asked anyone about, then hit a pothole that writes off your suspension. Conservatives have the plan to fix it." Meanwhile, GB News reports that Restore Britain party proposes raising motorway speed limits to 80mph. Public opinion on these policies remains unclear, and it is uncertain whether the Conservative plan to review 20mph limits will lead to actual changes.
It is certainly not one of our leading policies at this point. There are policies that have been developed over time through the party. But it is not something we are campaigning on in this election.
Our policy making process came about when we had something like 20,000 members. We just hit 226,000, so in terms of how the conference process works, I think the obvious place I would start is - it's not working as well as it should at the moment.
This will drive up costs for working families and bring the country to a standstill. It is completely out of touch with how people live. Only the Conservatives will stand up for drivers, protect your freedom to move, and keep Britain moving.
Labour only see drivers as a cash cow. Hiking fuel duty in a global oil crisis. 20mph roads. Banning petrol and diesel cars. Keir Starmer wants to make drivers’ lives as difficult as possible. The Conservatives are different. We understand that hardworking families and businesses need their cars and we have a plan to ensure we get Britain moving again.
Under Labour, you wait six months to take your test, pay through the nose at the pump, crawl through blanket 20mph zones the council never asked anyone about, then hit a pothole that writes off your suspension. Conservatives have the plan to fix it.