I HAVE been following with interest the story of the M65 widening.

I find it highly amusing that MP Greg Pope is to support this proposal, after all he is the man who decided it was a good idea to allow unfair trials by championing the new offence of causing death by dangerous driving "while disqualified".

Allowing a court to hear previous convictions before a guilty verdict is reached goes completely against the Human Rights Act 1998 that is supposed to allow fair trials.

But I keep forgetting we are in an election year and Mr Pope knows, as do most politicians, that vehicle drivers account for over 22 million voters.

We have seen in the past few months countless examples of subduing drivers into thinking they have a good deal.

Firstly the notorious Thelwall Viaduct on the M6 blighted for years now with speed cameras, road works and silly 50mph speed limits.

These were all gone in one night yet work is still carrying on below the bridge as it was before.

Then we seem to be lacking in the usual vast array of normal road works and childish speed limits that accompany them because we are in an election year.

Now we have the Tory party telling us that if they win in May they will outlaw speed bumps as they are a danger to the public.

I totally agree, if you are waiting for an ambulance that has to slow to a mere crawl to pass over these blights on the road, you could have to wait up to three minutes extra for it to arrive.

Three minutes to someone who has suffered a heart attack, stroke or has stopped breathing could literally be the difference between life and death.

The same can be said for the fire service but the less said about the police, the better in my view.

I wish to ask Mr Pope if he would also support this move as there is very little difference between the two parties anyway.

Also if this gesture is to be taken seriously by the voters could Coun Britcliffe, being both leader of the Hyndburn Council and a Conservative, take the initiative for once and remove them now and show that the Conservatives can be trusted to follow through on promises.

LUKE COLLINGE, Whalley Road, Accrington.