My work as Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson
In my role as Transport Spokesperson, I speak up for local and national issues affecting passengers and the transport network.
Step-free stations
Fighting for a fair deal for transport includes pushing for fully accessible and inclusive travel. I won and led a debate on step free stations, calling for reform for disabled users on the rail network. With only 25% stations fully step-free, far too many people are being excluded including many disabled & older people and parents & carers with buggies. Public transport should be accessible for all, and the Government must take further steps to address this.
While we have seen positive progress in Wimbledon with the opening of Motspur Park Station Lift, the latest win in Merton Lib Dems’ decade long campaign for accessible transport, there is still a long way to go. I also called on the Mayor of London to stick to his word and urgently address the huge rise in lift closures over the past few years. You can watch my interview on this here and read my article here.
Anti-social behaviour on public transport
I decided to ask the Prime Minister, at PMQs, about my party’s recent initiative to combat the minority who appear to give no thought to playing music, videos, and other loud content on trains & buses without headphones.
Everyone deserves to feel comfortable in public spaces and travel without stress and disruption.
Although various byelaws exist prohibiting such actions, my party is calling for the law to be simplified, publicised, and enforced.
Promoting Active Travel
I spoke in a children’s Road Safety Debate about the terrible tragedy at the Study school and how to make children (and their parents) feel confident in walking & cycling to school.
I urged the Government to publish their long overdue road safety strategy and prioritise active travel.
Holding Labour Accountable
I’m also committed to holding the Government to account as rail nationalisation plans are rolled out, to ensure passengers get a fair deal. I recently wrote to the Transport Secretary, following expensive missteps by her department in contract negotiations in the run-up to the nationalisation of South Western Railway (SWR) to ensure her government focuses on value for money and getting a better deal and more reliable service for passengers.
I also joined Lib Dem colleagues in calling for answers about the long-delayed fleet of ‘new’ trains that have been moth-balled since 2019, held up by software issues and other seemingly avoidable problems including protracted negotiations with the unions (including whether the driver or the guard opens & closes the doors!) and a continuing lack of trained drivers.
