The Guardian calls Cars UK “The Petrolheads’ favourite web site”

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has common-sense views on speed cameras, cyclists (although perhaps not Boris), speed limits and traffic calming. Which the Guardian doesn't like one bit

Cars UK has been called the petrolheads’ favourite website by the Guardian, in a piece condemning new Transport Minister Philip Hammond’s views as ‘Saloon Bar Ignorance’. Oh, dear.

Being proclaimed the Petrolheads’ favourite website by the Guardian – not a newspaper renowned for its love of cars – we’ll take as a compliment. Although it was meant to be disparaging.  The writer – former Reuters correspondent John Morrison – was condemning the common sense statement made by new Transport Secretary Philip Hammond during his first days in office – when he said the new coalition would “end the war on motorists” – and our statement that it was a ‘damn fine start’ to the job.

Mr Morrison claims the war on motorists to be a figment of the imagination, created by the Daily Mail. He decries it as just a soundbite for Jeremy Clarkson fans, instead of what it is – the common sense of a politician not afraid to speak the truth. But that’s not something Mr Morrison wants to hear. So he attacks the credibility of Philip Hammond in a marvellously selective way.

Mr Morrison states that “…[Philip Hammond] revealed himself as a man who loves driving his Jaguar XJ out on the open road, wants to ease speed limits for motorists and thinks cyclists should get out of their way” Which is such a twisted version of what Philip said it’s rather amusing.

First let’s get the ‘Mr Toad’ analogy out of the way. Philip Hammond is a self-made businessman – from a modest background – who could afford to drive pretty much what he wants. The fact he chooses to drive the Jaguar XJ diesel is testament to the fact he not only cares about buying a car made in the UK, but that he chooses not to be profligate by opting for the most economical version (or he’s tight – we’re not sure which).

Mr Morrison claims Philip wants to ease speed limits for motorists. What he actually said was that – as we have said on many occasions – it’s madness to prosecute someone driving at more than 70mph on a deserted motorway in the early hours of the morning. Philip proposes looking at flexible speed limits, particularly at night.

Mr Morrison has also managed to construe that Philip is anti-cyclist. According to Mr Morrison cyclists are the victims; the law abiding road users abused and killed by the evil car driver. What Philip actually said was that he would like to keep cars and bikes as far apart as practically possible. Who but a moron could argue with that?

And whilst we’re on the subject of cyclists, let’s throw in a few observations to raise Mr Morrison’s blood pressure. Cyclists have an absolute disregard for others on the road – particularly in London. They drive on pavements; overtake one another without taking precautions and  jump traffic lights with contempt. And as far as we’re aware – unless the law has been changed – it is illegal for a cyclist to ‘under-take’ a car unless they’re in a cycle lane, making just about every cyclist a law-breaker.

So now we’ve shown that it’s actually cyclists who are the menace on our roads, not motorists. But of course, that’s not true. Any more than it’s true that motorists are the enemy of the cyclists. The facts are somewhere in between. It’s called balance.

One final point – although we could bang on about this all day – is that Mr Morrison condemns Philip on climate change and carbon reduction, on the basis of an Evening Standard interview which Mr Morrison has used as the basis for his sorry little piece.

Apparently Philip hasn’t heard of climate change or carbon reduction because it wasn’t mentioned in the interview. Is it just possible that’s because the Evening Standard didn’t ask? Or is that too simple for Mr Morrison? It’s entirely possible (we don’t know) that Philip sees the nonsense that is taxation based on CO2 levels and the myth that is man-made global warming. We can but hope.

But never mind. I’m sure Mr Morrison speaks for the majority with his views. Apart from the 4 milion who read the Daily Mail. And the 7 million who watch Top Gear.

And the rest of the population who can recognise a biased agenda when they see one.