The Liberal Democrats have accused Rishi Sunak of "rank hypocrisy" and "playing politics with road safety" for criticising 20 mph zones, despite Conservative politicians across the country backing them.
It comes as analysis by the party reveals a list of 20 Conservative MPs and Councils, including three Cabinet Ministers, that have backed 20 mph speed limits.
Among those who have previously backed 20 mph zones is Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, who pledged his support to a 20’s Plenty campaign saying that “dropping your speed by merely 10 mph can make all the difference in preventing potentially fatal accidents."
Other Cabinet Ministers who have expressed support for 20 mph speed limits include the Welsh Secretary David Davies and Justice Secretary Alex Chalk.
Health Minister, Helen Whately, has backed the expansion of 20 mph speed limits in her constituency saying “there are benefits for everyone from a lower speed limit - safer roads, cleaner air, and better quality of life.”
And even in Rishi Sunak’s own backyard, Conservative run North Yorkshire Council has proposed the ‘the most significant 20 mph zone the council has ever introduced’ as they believe they are ‘safer’.
Liberal Democrat Transport spokesperson, Wera Hobhouse MP said:
“Rishi Sunak playing politics with road safety is a new low even by the Conservative party’s standards. It also speaks to the government’s rank hypocrisy after their MPs and Councils have backed campaign after campaign to drop speed limits to 20 mph.
“This is not a serious Prime Minister. His headline chasing antics are doing nothing to rectify the major difficulties that this country finds itself in from the cost-of-living crisis to the NHS being on its knees.
“These are the problems that the Prime Minister should be spending his time focussing on, not what speed limit every single culdesac should have. It is absurd and frankly pathetic.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
A list of the 20 Conservative politicians and Councils is below:
Conservative run North Yorkshire Council, in the PM’s own seat, is introducing ‘the most significant 20 mph zone the council has ever introduced’ as they believe they are ‘safer’. (i newspaper, 2023).
The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has joined Godalming road safety protesters to pledge his support for their 20’s Plenty campaign. He said that “Dropping your speed by merely 10 mph can make all the difference in preventing potentially fatal accidents, particularly with children.” (Surrey Live, 2013).
Justice Secretary Alex Chalk - The Cheltenham MP and Justice Secretary said that 20 mph limits in urban areas would help encourage more cycling at a Cycling UK event. (Twitter, 2016).
Welsh Conservative Leader Andrew RT Davies posed with campaigners holding a sign saying "20's plenty where people live" (Twitter, 2018).
Welsh Secretary David Davies has discussed why he backs a 20 mph zone in his Monmouth constituency (South Wales Argus, 2022).
West Cornwall Conservative MP Derek Thomas has said he is backing “the growing campaign to introduce 20 mph speed limits in communities across West Cornwall and the rest of the county” (Derek Thomas’ website, April 2021).
Andrea Jenkyns joined OPA Kirkhamgate’s School Parliament to collect more signatures on their 20’s plenty petition (MP website, 2022).
Simon Fell MP “the move to tackle speeding in the town comes after the three councillors partnered with Furness MP Simon Fell to roll out the ‘Twenty’s Plenty’ campaign in recent weeks.” (The Mail (Cumbria), 2022).
George Freeman MP “Yaxham's 20's Plenty campaign, which was reignited earlier this year, has won the backing of Mid Norfolk MP George Freeman and national road safety charity Brake.” (Eastern Daily Press, 2014).
Helen Whateley MP currently a health minister, backed the expansion of 20 mph zones in her constituency. She said “there are benefits for everyone from a lower speed limit - safer roads, cleaner air, and better quality of life.” (MPs website, 2020).
Lucy Frazier MP is listed as backing the Burwell Safety Campaign that includes introducing 20 mph zones as one of its objectives (Burwell Parish Council, March 2022).
Scott Mann MP said he was “very pleased” about the expansion of a 20 mph zone in his constituency, stating that “many of my North Cornwall constituents have contacted me to let me know that they support the 20 mph programme for speed limits in their parishes and towns.” (Holsworthy Today, December 2021).
Cornwall Council Introducing a blanket speed limit reduction from 30 mph to 20 mph was a key manifesto pledge for the Conservatives in the 2021 council elections. The Conservative-run council has launched a pilot scheme with the aim of bringing in a 20 mph on all residential roads in the county by 2026. (BBC, 2023).
Pauline Latham MP said in Parliament that “it is my hope that the school’s campaign to have the speed limit reduced to 20 mph will be successful—but it will be successful only if the county council is listening (Parliament, 2015).
Chloe Smith MP backed calls for 20 mph zones outside schools in Norwich, commenting that “parents and residents want 20 mph because it can be much safer for children and all road users” (Eastern Daily Press, 2013).
Perth and Kinross Conservative Councillors Roz McCall and Bob Brawn Conservative Councillors expressed their delight at temporary 20 mph speed limits being made permanent across Perth and Kinross, commenting that “it gives pedestrians the confidence to get out and about and makes the area safer for children walking to school.” (Perth and Kinross Conservatives, 2021).
East Sussex County Council The Conservative-run council is planning to bring in more 20 mph schemes as part of yearly road safety improvements (ITV News, September 2023).
Brighton and Hove Conservatives voted for the expansion of the 20 mph programme in the area (Brighton and Hove News, 2013).
Somerset County Council In 2020 the Council announced plans to install 20 mph speed zones outside half of all schools in Somerset. (Somerset County Gazette, 2020).
Norfolk County Council backed a trial in December last year to make Swaffham the first 20 mph town in Norfolk. (BBC, 2022).