DEPUTY Prime Minister John Prescott - the man charged with solving Britain's transport crisis - has been accused of 'revving the car engine while the traffic lights at 10 Downing Street are stuck on red'. The attack on the Government's 'doing nothing is not an option' policy came from Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Matthew Taylor at the Party's annual conference in Harrogate.

He said: 'Longer traffic jams. Later trains. Increasing air pollution. In the words of John Prescott: 'doing nothing is not an option'. So what do Labour do ... nothing! 'We've had a White Paper, consultation papers, reviews, focus groups, promises and pledged. But the more the Deputy Prime Minister revs the engine, the more the traffic lights at Number 10 seem to be stuck on red.

'In more than two years of a Labour Government, transport for most people has been steadily stuck at red. Congested roads. Late trains. Sky-high ticket prices. Doing nothing is not an option for the Deputy Prime Minister - doing nothing is not an option, it seems, for his boss.

'Labour's four transport ministers since the General Election have backed away from even their modest election pledge to reduce overall traffic levels. Whether you are stuck in a traffic jam, delayed on a train or dodging speeding traffic crossing the road in your village, it is clear the Conservatives don't want to help you. And Labour doesn't dare to help you.'