Transport is key to Cambridge’s future development, with business investment, housing developments and our quality of life at stake. I believe that the MP for Cambridge can play a key leadership role, and despite fundamental differences with local Liberal Democrats and Conservatives, my promise is to work constructively with them to secure the improvements that Cambridge and our region require.

The debate over a congestion charge has been fierce, and it is clear that the public are deeply sceptical. I do not oppose congestion charging in general, but I see little prospect of it working for Cambridge. As a member of Labour’s Policy Commission working on transport policy I have discussed the prospects for Cambridge with successive Transport Ministers. Despite the early concerns, London’s congestion zone has been a success – reducing emissions and traffic in the city centre. London however is not Cambridge. There is a system of public transport in place there which we simply do not have, and seem unlikely to achieve in the foreseeable future.

Without the congestion charge, we need to look at alternatives, and I believe that this will be achieved largely by improving the bus system. Labour has made powers available to councils to re-regulate the buses, and these should be used. Labour has also introduced the Business Rates Supplement Act which allows local councils to levy extra business rates for major transport infrastructure projects. There are also much simpler improvements that could be made quickly which would make bus travel more attractive such as using smart-cards to reduce delays and providing real-time information at major interchanges such as the Railway Station and Addenbrookes and on mobile phones.

Like many others, I have been sceptical about the Guided Bus, but I welcome major capital investment in our transport infrastructure, and now the money has been spent, it is important that the system is up and running as soon as possible. The delays have been unacceptable and reflect poorly on both the contractor and the county council.

Part of the case for the Guided Bus was that it would relieve congestion on the A14. Traffic management measures have already made improvements, but in the long-term it has been clear that more substantial improvements are needed. While everyone would agree that switching freight to rail is desirable, and improvements have been achieved here too, I find it extra-ordinary that local Liberal Democrats, including the MP, have been opposing the planned A14 upgrade.