Labour’s alternative Queen’s speech should show that when spending is tight for government and families we are prepared to use the power of the state to give people who want a better standard of life a break. 1.    Labour should insist that the government stop spending billions on handouts and instead creates a job programme …

As shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, Labour’s credibility on deficit reduction and fiscal discipline is my central concern. It’s a tough brief – but one that now, even more than ever, is pivotal to the party’s future success. Credibility matters because it is the precondition for everything we in the Labour party want to …

Labour should back directly elected mayors this May and press the government to devolve more powers to them It is perhaps unsurprising that Ed Miliband does not appear an enthusiast for directly elected mayors. The first holder of the post in his Doncaster constituency, Martin Winter, was expelled from the Labour party and a motion …

The latest opinion poll in London shows Boris Johnson’s lead over Ken Livingstone evaporating. In a few months, by banging on about issues that don’t matter much to Londoners, Boris has squandered his eight-point lead. On the key indicator of being ‘in touch’, Livingstone is now streets ahead of Johnson. It is, as they say, …

Well the beginning of this new year has seen the railways take centre-stage in transport news and, for once, leading the national news agenda. We are a nation of trainspotters and train fares are a regular cause of debate (complaint!). But what has gone seemingly unnoticed is the similar (and in a number of cases, …

The publication of an updated National Infrastructure Plan with the chancellor’s Autumn Statement is a welcome appearance. There is pretty much consensus over the absolutely crucial value of significant investment in the country’s infrastructure – transport, communications, energy, waste and environmental that together provide the physical manifestation of stuff – the stuff that we all, …

Aside from the current high speed rail debate there are several other pressing policy areas affecting the railways as they are now, and top of that list is rail fares. There is a philosophical schism between those who consider that the railways should not be a burden on tax revenue and those that think the …

It is absolutely clear that any country needs to set out a clear long-term strategy if it wants to generate economic growth. A fundamental part of any long-term strategy for growth is infrastructure and, specifically, transport infrastructure. Transport is the constant in all of our lives. Going to work or college, to the doctors or …

On Wednesday, Lord Foster launched his plan for ‘The Thames Hub’. This £50 billion plan is a vast infrastructure and regeneration project on a scale many perhaps cannot fully comprehend.  However, as with all huge infrastructure projects (and my personal experience with HS2 currently is a reference) the naysayers have come out in force, egged …

At a time of great difficulty for the city, London needs a mayor who wants to be mayor, writes David Lammy Everybody knows that the London elections next year will be tough for us but, be under no illusions, they matter enormously. Politically, they are the biggest test for the government before the next general …