TRANSPORT secretary Mark Harper gave motorists the green light today to drive faster through towns and cities as the government stepped up its courting of the car vote.

Speaking to the Tory Party conference, Mr Harper said he would curb 20 mile-an-hour speed limits and stop local councils from fining drivers if he deems them “overzealous.”

He said that “30mph is the default speed limit on urban roads.” 

Mr Harper also pledged to introduce one national parking app in place of the current proliferation and to rephase traffic lights to help cars move faster.

He also followed up on PM Rishi Sunak’s potholes offensive by offering “a comprehensive package of measures to help councils tackle the menace.”

Declaring the Tories to be “proudly pro-car,” Mr Harper’s speech confirms that the government believes that motoring issues could be a vote winner.

Regarding HS2, Mr Harper had not a word to say, despite speaking at the line’s now likely abandoned terminus of Manchester.

Transport expert Christian Wolmar said that Mr Harper “is the worst ever transport secretary, with his complete failure to offer anything that doesn’t make things worse — ticket office closures, more and faster cars, cuts in public transport and no vision.”

But Mr Harper found time today to attack workers taking industrial action to protect jobs and pay on the railways.

The RMT union called upon Mr Harper today to play a more constructive role and allow privatised rail operators to make an offer that could end the dispute, while scrapping the ticket office closure plan.