Jay Elwes
Both political parties agree that Britain needs more infrastructure and the National Infrastructure Council— suggested by Labour and set up by the Tories—is the symbol of that consensus. The disagreement is over where the money should be spent. Investment in economically strong areas is tempting as it yields immediate results. But it’s in the regions where growth is weaker that new infrastructure is most needed
Bridget Rosewell is Commissioner for the National Infrastructure Commission, which monitors and guides government decision-making on major public works. Are there any “no-brainer” projects when it comes to infrastructure? Yes, she told me. “Communications technologies.” With connectivity, “the difficult areas are rural,” she said. There is, she argued, a strong argument for putting money into areas where economic activity is strained rather than where it’s already strong.