Dozens of transport improvements promised by the Government when it first came to power have been quietly ditched, the Conservatives claim.

With Labour halfway through implementing a 10-year plan of infrastructure investment, Labour ministers were accused of failing to deliver on many of the pledges cont ained in their £65 billion investment plan.

These include improvements to the M4 from Swindon to south Wales, improvements to the A66 Scotch Corner to Penrith and to the M67, A628 and A6 16 linking Manchester to the M1.

Transport secretary Alistair Darling said in response: ‘The big problem the Tories have is that they have said they would spend less. Are they prepared to invest what is necessary?’