logo
Treasury minister Reynolds struggles over Lower Thames Crossing answers

Treasury minister Reynolds struggles over Lower Thames Crossing answers

She also mistakenly referred to the existing crossing being the 'Dartmouth tunnel', apparently confusing the Devon town with Dartford, the location of the crossings for traffic across the Thames.
The River Thames from Gravesend looking west towards London, at the location of the proposed Lower Thames Crossing (Jordan Pettitt/PA)
'I meant Dartford, excuse me, I had a very early morning,' the minister told LBC Radio.
Asked about the proposed new crossing's location, she said: 'You'll forgive me, I can't recall the landing zone.'
The crossing will involve two tunnels under the Thames to the east of Tilbury in Essex and Gravesend in Kent.
Pressed on the cost, she said 'it's going to cost quite a lot of money', suggesting it would be 'several billion pounds'.
LBC Radio presenter Nick Ferrari told Ms Reynolds: 'Is there much point continuing this conversation because you don't know where a bridge starts, where it ends and you don't know how much it costs?'
National Highways has estimated the cost will be between £9.2 billion and £10.2 billion depending on the funding model chosen.
An artist's impression of how the southern portal of the Lower Thames Crossing in Kent will look (Highways England/PA)
It would connect the A2 and M2 in Kent to the A13 and M25 in Essex via a 2.6-mile tunnel under the Thames, which would be the UK's longest road tunnel.
The funding for the Lower Thames Crossing will be part of the Government's 10-year plan for infrastructure.
A new structures fund will also invest in repairing bridges, flyovers, tunnels and other transport infrastructure such as roads.
The Lower Thames Crossing is aimed at reducing congestion at Dartford.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander (James Manning/PA)
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has said that the project is 'essential for improving the resilience of a key freight route and is critical to our long-term trade with Europe'.
'It will speed up the movement of goods from south-east England to the Midlands and the north, crucial to thousands of jobs and businesses,' she added.
Rachel Reeves has said ministers are 'going all in by going up against the painful disruption of closed bridges, crossings and flyovers'.
The Chancellor added: 'This is a turning point for our national infrastructure, and we're backing it with funding to support thousands of jobs and connect communities, delivering on our plan for change.'
The plan is intended to ease congestion at the Dartford Crossing (Gareth Fuller/PA)
It comes ahead of the Government's infrastructure strategy, expected this week, while public procurement rules are set to be overhauled so that public bodies will have to give more weight to firms which can prove they will boost British jobs when they are bidding for contracts.
The Chancellor outlined a range of infrastructure investments as part of last week's spending review.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Conflict between Israel and Iran could escalate to ‘very dark place'
Conflict between Israel and Iran could escalate to ‘very dark place'

Rhyl Journal

time8 minutes ago

  • Rhyl Journal

Conflict between Israel and Iran could escalate to ‘very dark place'

Attacks from both sides have ramped up since Friday, with Iran's health ministry claiming 224 people have been killed, while Israel has killed three of Tehran's top generals. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has warned Britons against travelling to Israel, amid ongoing operations in Gaza. The FCDO advises against all travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. British nationals should continue to follow the advice of local authorities. — Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) June 15, 2025 Speaking to journalists in Glasgow, John Swinney urged world leaders to calm tensions. 'The conflict with Iran has the potential to escalate to a very dark place,' he said. 'So I think all of that says to me that the international community and the United Kingdom Government particularly have got to marshal their efforts to constrain Israel and to de-escalate this conflict, both in Gaza and between Israel and Iran. 'The sooner that happens, the better.' The UK Government, according to Mr Swinney, has to step up diplomatic efforts. 'I think the UK Government has got to put more emphasis and weight into the de-escalation and the resolution of this conflict, because I think – you don't need me to tell you – this has got catastrophic implications written all over it.' The ongoing conflicts in the region 'could not be more concerning', the First Minister said, adding: 'The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza has been unconscionable. 'Amongst the main discussions I had at the British-Irish Council at the end of last week were discussions about the importance of humanitarian aid, which is sitting on the border in Jordan. 'It's all sitting there, able to go in, being stopped. 'So it's unconscionable that is happening just now.'

Starmer says France needs to co-operate more over migration
Starmer says France needs to co-operate more over migration

South Wales Guardian

time9 minutes ago

  • South Wales Guardian

Starmer says France needs to co-operate more over migration

The Prime Minister said he wants 'more co-operation' over migration and will raise the issue with the country's president as the number of people making the journey climbed again over the weekend, taking this year's provisional total to 16,317. On the way to the G7 conference in Canada, where leaders from the world's wealthiest countries will meet for talks on global security, Sir Keir said he was determined to 'absolutely bear down' on the crossings. Data from the Home Office indicated 919 people made the journey in 14 boats on Friday and 134 crossed the Channel on Saturday. The highest daily number so far this year was on May 31, when 1,195 people arrived. Asked whether he was satisfied with the response from French border authorities, Sir Keir told reporters: 'One of the things we've worked hard at is improving the relations with the French in relation to the work we both need to do to stop these boat crossings, which I'm determined we will absolutely bear down on. 'Nobody should be making that journey. 'As a result of that we are seeing a much greater co-operation in northern France – I want to see more co-operation in northern France, and it's an issue that I have raised and will raise again with President Macron. 'We have good relations between the Home Secretary and the interior minister now that we're working on jointly. 'It's one of the issues I'll be discussing – not just with Macron, actually, but discussing it with Giorgia Meloni, Freidrich Merz, and others.' Downing Street said the Prime Minister had 'lengthy discussions' about migration with his Italian counterpart during his first bilateral meeting at the summit in the Canadian Rockies on Sunday. 'The Prime Minister raised the UK's world-leading work on people smuggling sanctions, adding that he looked forward to working with other European countries on this approach,' Number 10 said. Sir Keir's Government has pledged to 'smash the gangs' behind people-smuggling operations but has so far struggled to bring down crossings in the Channel, which is one of the busiest and most dangerous shipping lanes in the world. Chancellor Rachel Reeves last week committed £200 million to overhauling the asylum system and said the Government will end the use of hotels to house asylum seekers in this Parliament. The 'reset' deal struck between the UK and EU in May this year included commitments to co-operate more on migration, including greater intelligence-sharing. It did not include an EU-wide returns agreement, which the Prime Minister said in 2023 he would seek to secure. Sir Keir's agenda for the G7 summit has not been confirmed but he is expected to hold talks with Mr Macron as well as US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Mr Merz over the course of the conference.

UK warns the situation in Middle East ‘has potential to deteriorate further'
UK warns the situation in Middle East ‘has potential to deteriorate further'

South Wales Guardian

time9 minutes ago

  • South Wales Guardian

UK warns the situation in Middle East ‘has potential to deteriorate further'

The Foreign Office has advised against all travel to Israel, but Britons already in the country now face difficulties getting home – with the airspace closed due to the conflict with Iran. A No 10 spokesman said: 'We, of course, recognise this is a fast-moving situation that has the potential to deteriorate further, quickly and without warning.' The UK now advises against all travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. My message to British nationals there is clear – your safety remains our top priority. Follow our travel advice for the latest updates: — David Lammy (@DavidLammy) June 15, 2025 He added: 'We are keeping all our advice under constant review and we plan for a variety of developments, as you would expect.' Poland has announced an evacuation of around 200 of its citizens in a bus convoy to Jordan, while the Czech Republic and Slovakian governments have organised repatriation flights from the region. Iran fired further missiles at Israel overnight, while Israel's military claimed to have 'full air superiority' over Tehran as strikes continued. The escalating conflict will be high on the agenda as leaders from the G7 group of wealthy democracies meet in Canada. Sir Keir Starmer said that the G7 meeting in Alberta would provide an opportunity for allies to make the case for de-escalation in the 'fast-moving' situation in the Middle East, with US president Donald Trump among those set to attend. Sir Keir called for 'restraint and de-escalation' during a bilateral meeting with Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni in Kananaskis, Canada, on Sunday evening. Mr Trump is reported to have vetoed an Israeli plan to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Downing Street would not be drawn on whether the UK was aware of the plan to assassinate the Iranian leader. A No 10 spokesman said: 'We wouldn't comment on private conversations or intelligence matters. 'We are concerned by further escalation, which is in no-one's interest, and we're working closely with our allies to press for a return to diplomacy.' The UK has been calling for de-escalation, and Sir Keir confirmed on Saturday that more RAF jets would be sent to the region for 'contingency support'.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store