Tories taunt embattled Transport Secretary

Tories today wished beleaguered Transport Secretary Stephen Byers "goodbye", claiming he could go in an Easter Cabinet reshuffle…

Tories today wished beleaguered Transport Secretary Stephen Byers "goodbye", claiming he could go in an Easter Cabinet reshuffle.

Shadow transport secretary Mrs Theresa May, speaking at the last question time for transport ministers before the Commons break at the end of this month, said: "May I just tell you goodbye."

Mr Byers quipped back: "Whether it is you saying bye bye to me or me saying bye bye to you time will tell."

Mrs May accused the Government of misleading the public with claims £64.9 billion sterling was to be invested in the railways over the next 10 years, saying the real amount was only £20 billion.

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She said one third of the Government's figure was "accounted for by inflation, a quarter of it is double counting and a third of the remainder is on-going renewals and maintenance work".

Only £20 million remained as new investment.

She demanded that Mr Byers apologise to MPs: "Or do you just regret giving the wrong impression.

"As this is the last Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions questions before the Easter reshuffle may I just tell you goodbye."

PA