Chris Ames

AA calls for POPEs to be released The AA has picked up on my revelation that the Department for Transport (DfT) is sitting on a large number of post-opening evaluations of smart motorways and suggested that the loss of the hard sho…

My Transport Insights blog goes from strength to strength in terms of both readers and influence

Here I report that the AA has picked up on one of my exclusive stories about smart motorways.

I have added a subscribe function where you can sign up for updates

transportinsights.blog/2025/10/06/a...

National Highways digs holes in Thames Tunnel carbon pledges National Highways has continued its greenwashing of the Lower Thames Crossing but its pledge to wish away emissions from the construction of the unaffordable scheme is full of holes. Last week the …

On my Transport Insights blog, I ask whether anything about National Highways' claims of a carbon neutral Lower Thames Crossing stands up to scrutiny.

The scheme will use "best practice" offsetting - unless the price is too high.

transportinsights.blog/2025/10/07/n...

Just logged onto LinkedIn to see this government insult to intelligence, £250bn in investment since June. What does this even mean? If it was inward FDI that would be over 10% of total stock in three months. It clearly isn't. It is just bad government comms in almost every way.

National Highways’ Toxic Run-Off It has been widely reported that our rivers are polluted, with not a single river in England in good overall health. What isn’t so well known is that a major source of this pollution comes from our ro...

Runoff ponds for water and pollution management around the M25 could be full of hazardous waste as National Highways was unable to identify when they were last cleaned, according to a New Civil Engineer report last year. transportactionnetwork.org.uk/national-hig...

AA calls for POPEs to be released The AA has picked up on my revelation that the Department for Transport (DfT) is sitting on a large number of post-opening evaluations of smart motorways and suggested that the loss of the hard sho…

The AA has linked the expansion of smart motorways to an increase in delays on the strategic road network and called for the Department for Transport to release the evaluations of all lane running schemes that I revealed it to be blocking.

transportinsights.blog/2025/10/06/a...

Exclusive: Labour blocks smart motorway safety data Ministers are sitting on a huge amount of data on the safety and value for money of smart motorway schemes, including at least nine that were due for completion in 2022. The concealment of multiple…

The Department for Transport has sat on the evaluation reports for nine ‘smart’ motorway schemes that were completed in 2022... The results must be so embarrassing that the DfT are refusing to publish them!
transportinsights.blog/2025/09/25/e...

Starmer becomes a Blairite clone I’ve just caught up with what Keir Starmer told Metro about the government’s mindless “builders not blockers” decision to back more flights at Gatwick. When asked whether he…

On my Transport Insights blog I (belatedly) call out Keir Starmer for the sort of nonsense over airport expansion that should be beneath a prime minister, but is in fact classic Blairism.

transportinsights.blog/2025/10/06/s...

Moral panic over a rise in violence ahead of Euro 2024 is bad for fans like me – and bad for football | Cas Mudde Many are hyping a ‘return to the dark days’. Their obsession with security comes at a high political price, says author Cas Mudde

I could go on...

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Don’t fall for the moral panic over children’s screen time | Nesrine Malik Books liberated me when I was young. Phones and laptops do the same job today, says the Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

In the moral panic over vaping, we risk forgetting that cigarettes kill | Martha Gill Bans and taxes on the most popular and effective aid for giving up smoking could lead to a major health crisis

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Stop National Highways’ toxic water pollution! We all know our rivers are polluted. However, it’s not just from sewage, or due to the inaction of failing water companies. What is less talked about, but in many ways worse than sewage and even more ...

National Highways is not doing enough to tackle widespread pollution of our rivers and groundwater.

Write to your MP today and call for more funding within RIS3 to be allocated to clearing up our rivers.
actionnetwork.org/letters/stop...

‘Obedient, yielding and happy to follow’: the troubling rise of AI girlfriends AI dating sites claim they remove potential for exploitation, but critics say they are reinforcing harmful stereotypes

The Guardian showing once again that it loves a moral panic...except when it is calling out others for (checks notes) moral panic.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

New new dawn for A46 bypass Ministers have again given the “green light” to the A46 Newark Bypass, although the £500m scheme has no delivery timetable. Rail minister Lord Hendy has approved a development consent order for the…

Ministers are so keen to "green light" the A46 Newark Bypass, they've done it twice, although don't imagine that means it will be happening any time soon...

transportinsights.blog/2025/10/06/n...

AA calls for POPEs to be released The AA has picked up on my revelation that the Department for Transport (DfT) is sitting on a large number of post-opening evaluations of smart motorways and suggested that the loss of the hard sho…

The AA has linked the expansion of smart motorways to an increase in delays on the strategic road network and called for the Department for Transport to release the evaluations of all lane running schemes that I revealed it to be blocking.

transportinsights.blog/2025/10/06/a...

Police to get broader powers to crack down on repeated protests The move is not a ban on protests but

Rapidly turning into the most right wing (British) government in history.
Truly the nasty party
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

A strong umbrella that catches the wind rather than bending backwards in high winds. What could possibly go wrong?

Stop National Highways’ toxic water pollution! We all know our rivers are polluted. However, it’s not just from sewage, or due to the inaction of failing water companies. What is less talked about, but in many ways worse than sewage and even more ...

We all know our rivers are polluted.

But it’s not just from sewage, or due to the inaction of failing water companies...

actionnetwork.org/letters/stop...

The usual bullshit about the public finances. Firstly, £45bn when? Over what period? Secondly, the annual deficit is currently way more than the purely notional “shortfall” of £30bn and cannot be covered by an extra £45bn

It’s just possible that the Labour voices who urged Khan to ditch Ulez expansion after the Uxbridge by-election were not, after all, strategic geniuses.

You’ve made a lasting positive impact, wish our mayor had the same courage. #manchester
“Last year, a University of Manchester report said up to 1,200 premature deaths were attributed to air pollution in Greater Manchester, which has among the worst levels of air quality in the UK.”

Burnham is a coward

This is what happens when politicians act bravely and deliver progressive change. Notable from the news story where other metro mayors are still deliberating and delaying on such measures, they still have illegal air quality issues. Cough cough Manchester & Andy Burnham, Liverpool & Birmingham...

Imagine being so dumb that you don’t know the difference between amending the ECHR, which is an international treaty well outside Britain’s reach, and rethinking how international law is interpreted by UK courts.
And then doubling down when pulled up on it🙃😂😂😂

www.theguardian.com/law/2025/oct...

Many critical rail schemes that the Government has ‘paused’ (effectively cancelled) or ignored (not funded) would offer far more in growth than the Lower Thames Crossing and provide more benefits. transportactionnetwork.org.uk/the-lower-th...

Centrists never have a good reason to vote for them. It’s always a threat from the left or the right or less centrist centrists
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

Did you know that not a single river in England is in good overall health?! National Highways, a government-owned company, needs to prioritise its funding to clean up the toxic brew polluting our rivers! actionnetwork.org/letters/stop...

This government seems intent on wasting more of our money on the Lower Thames Crossing, while cancelling rail schemes up and down the country.

Here's why the LTC is a poor investment and a waste of precious public funds: transportactionnetwork.org.uk/the-lower-th...

Iran sanctions reimposed 10 years after landmark nuclear deal Iran says the sanctions are

Astonishingly deceitful framing by the state broadcaster, first using the passive case to disguise that it’s just three rogue states and then framing it in their terms.
The BBC is incapable of balance or objectivity when it comes to enemies of the West
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

‘It’s actually a superfood!’ Why tempeh is suddenly on every menu – and coming to a supermarket near you Tofu’s close relative can be sliced, smoked, marinated, deep fried, turned into mince, burgers, or ‘bacon’ … and it’s high in protein and other vital nutrients. Here’s how to make the most of it

“Every menu”

www.theguardian.com/food/2025/se...

Congratulations to England's Red Roses, the women's rugby world cup winners. A superb effort over six weeks and deserved winners.