Government’s record on infrastructure is “a complete and utter shambles” according to a leading Labour MP who harangued the Coalition during a heated exchange in the Commons last week.

Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Rachel Reeves (pictured) told the House that “Government does not seem to be in a hurry to invest” and that “they fail to understand the need for a comprehensive and long term plan to build Britain’s infrastructure for the 21st Century.” She added that “inertia is the watchword of this Government, at a time when what we need is action.”

She cited the A14 upgrade which she claims will not start until 2018 and the Mersey Gateway bridge where no preferred bidder has been announced.

According to Ms Reeves only 14% of the 576 projects listed in the Coalition’s infrastructure pipeline have started and just 1% of those are said to be operational. “There is still no sign of the Government sharing the country’s sense of urgency,” she went on.

In response the Coalition’s Financial Secretary to the Treasury Greg Clark said that last year’s Autumn Statement included a further £5.5Bn of investment including £1.5Bn for the strategic road network. He added: “Had Labour in Government taken a greater interest in the long term future of our railways we could have been looking at a high speed line to Birmingham and beyond opening before the end of this Parliament.”

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