Democracy and Diversity
Dishonourable Honours
What does South East Cornwall's MP have to show for years of blind loyalty to Boris Johnson?
16 Jun 2023
MPs Shun Tamar Toll Protesters
30 Jul 2023
Hundreds of protesters marched across the Tamar Bridge on Saturday calling on the Government to abolish the tolls, but local MPs weren't there to listen.
Cornwall Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr Colin Martin thanked those who organised and took part in the event, but criticised Conservative MPs Sheryll Murray and Johnny Mercer and Labour MP Luke Pollard for failing to attend, despite having been invited weeks in advance. "I was meant to be on holiday with my family this week, but I changed my plans because I wanted to show my support for this important cause" said Cllr Martin. "If our MPs don't treat the tolls as a priority, then neither will the Government. The £14 million annual cost of running the bridge and ferries is a huge burden on the thousands of local people who use it, but equates to just 0.001% of Government spending."
Cllr Martin's speech compared the annual cost of the tolls to other Government priorities: 35 minutes of the NHS, 2 hours of the armed forces, or 6 hours of the money we "sent to Brussels" before Brexit. "Yet military and civilian personnel have to pay to cross the ferry to reach Devonport Dockyard; patients and staff have to pay to cross the bridge to Derriford hospital, and Cornish residents and businesses don't even have 'free movement' or 'free trade' with Devon!".
Cllr Martin pointed out that abolishing the tolls would tick every box: 'levelling up', tackling the cost of living, boosting economic growth and even reducing CO2 emissions by reducing the time drivers spent queuing at toll booths or taking detours to avoid the bridge.
"The only reason these tolls are still being paid by the hard-pressed residents of Plymouth and South East Cornwall is because our Conservative and Labour MPs have failed to do their jobs properly. If you just use your voice to protest, they can ignore you, but if you use your vote to elect a different Member of Parliament you will see real change."
Cllr Martin will be standing against Sheryll Murray at the next General Election. The Labour party does not have a candidate in South East Cornwall.
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