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Cameron warns English infrastructure would be cut under Labour deal with SNP

Tory leader David Cameron this weekend raised the prospect of English infrastructure projects being cancelled by a Labour government propped by SNP.

David Cameron was on BBC's Andrew Marr Show on Sunday

Interviewed by the BBC, Cameron suggested that the likelihood of Labour having to work with the SNP to form a government meant that the party would have its policies led by the SNP which is focused on benefiting Scotland.

But a Labour spokesperson told Infrastructure intelligence that there would be no coalition with the SNP and the party, if in government, would “take a long term approach to investing in critical infrastructure”. It also reiterated its support for HS2 but said that costs were too high and promised “to get the project back on track and regain control of the budget”.

Manifestos for infrastructure - read the five main parties' pledges here

Cameron was speaking on BBC’s Andrew Marr show and said the SNP “would not care what happened in the rest of the country”.

He added: "This would be the first time in our history that a group of nationalists from one part of our country would be involved in altering the direction of the government of our country and I think that is a frightening prospect.

"For people thinking in their own constituencies is that bypass going to be built, will my hospital get the money it needs?

"Frankly, this is a group of people that wouldn't care about what happened in the rest of the country. The rest of the UK - England, Wales, Northern Ireland - wouldn't get a look-in - that's the prospect we face if we don't get a Conservative majority government.

“Labour’s infrastructure policies are clear. Labour will legislate to set up an independent National Infrastructure Commission to secure long-term investment in critical infrastructure. This will be fast tracked through Parliament so that the commission can make an impact straight away." - Labour spokesperson

"The SNP is a party that doesn't want to come to Westminster to contribute to a government, it wants to come to Westminster to break up our country.

"You have to ask yourself if you're a voter in England, Wales and Northern Irealand would these people care at all about what happens in my life and my constituency. The answer is no."

Later in the interview Cameron highlighted Labour's plan to cancel work on the A27 and A358 in the south west to fund a rail fare freeze as evidence of what could happen under a Labour government supported up by the SNP.

“We have already seen Labour cancel important infrastructure projects in the south and south west,” he said. They have said they don’t care about these things because they don’t matter to us politically. Imagine what it would be like with SNP MPs.”

The Labour Party responded to Cameron’s suggestions on Monday with a flat denial that there would be a coaliton with the SNP. “Day by day we are seeing a desperate Tory party that wants to talk the SNP up because they have nothing to say to the working people of Britain,” a spokesperson told Infrastructure Intelligence.

“There will be no coalition with the SNP. We will be presenting a Labour Queen’s speech based on our manifesto. How other parties would choose to vote is for them."

The spokesperson added: “Labour’s infrastructure policies are clear. Labour will legislate to set up an independent National Infrastructure Commission to secure long-term investment in critical infrastructure. This will be fast tracked through Parliament so that the commission can make an impact straight away.

“We will take a long-term approach to investing in critical infrastructure. High Speed 2 is an important project that will help to solve capacity problems that passengers currently face. Labour supports High Speed 2, but costs have risen excessively. We will get the project back on track, and regain control of the budget. We will combine this with action to improve and expand rail links across the North to boost the regional economy."

The spokesperson said transport investment would continue in London but a “fairer system of funding” would be introduced to support schemes around the country.

“Labour supports ongoing investment in London’s transport infrastructure, from Crossrail to the Thameslink upgrades, to boost growth and jobs in the capital and to ensure a sustainable future for the city’s economy.

“We have already seen Labour cancel important infrastructure projects in the south and south west. They have said they don’t care about these things because they don’t matter to us politically. Imagine what it would be like with SNP MPs” - David Cameron

“But investment in London must be balanced with investment elsewhere in the country. Labour will therefore ensure a fairer system of transport funding is introduced so that every part of the country has access to good quality transport networks.”

The industry view was that, whoever is the largest party on 8 May, what is needed is a government that moves quickly to create stability and give business confidence to invest, hire and train new staff. 

“It is obviously up to incoming governments what priorities and projects they choose to embark on, however infrastructure has been proven to be a vital component in stimulating economic growth, creating jobs, and generating the tax revenue to support other policy priorities like the NHS," said ACE chief executive Nelson Ogunshakin.

"In addition, the uncertainty that industry would see return to the process would undermine all the work that we have done over the past five years. Businesses need the visibility of the pipeline of work to 2019, for instance, to be able to invest in its workforce, the skills of its people, and take on apprentices to ensure the next generation of engineers we need."

He added: "ACE has confidence, however, that any incoming government will continue to see the benefits of infrastructure investment, and we will be able to work with them to ensure delivery of what we need to grow and compete in the coming years.”

Civil Engineering Contractors Association chief executive Alastair Reisner said:  “Industry cannot afford uncertainty in the existing programme of infrastructure investment and nor can the private investors which are already seeing challenges around some of the major projects.” 

 

Manifestos for infrastructure - read the five main parties' pledges here

If you would like to contact Jackie Whitelaw about this, or any other story, please email jackie.whitelaw@infrastructure-intelligence.com.