Darling dares to plan ahead

摘要

Politicians are often accused of thinking only in the short term on a good day, so far ahead as the next election. While it is sometimes wise to show caution when an election looms, especially when unwelcome decisions are needed, policy makers are actually more farsighted than they are given credit for. For instance, some time ago John Prescott announced a ten-year transport plan which spanned over two Parliaments and into a third by the time Prescott could be expected to be adorning the Lords. Now, the current transport secretary Alastair Darling, has outdone Prescott by announcing plans which look 30 years into the future. Admittedly, his proposals are presented in the form of aspirations, which, I think, is very wise of him given the snakes and ladders nature of transport policy in recent decades.