Raise motorway limit to 80mph, says minister

The speed limit on motorways should be lifted to 80mph to increase national productivity by helping car and van drivers get to meetings more quickly, a government minister has said.

Liz Truss, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, told a fringe meeting organised by the Centre for Policy Studies at the Conservative party conference that increasing the speed limit would mean that drivers wasted less time in their vehicles.

Afterwards, asked if there were risks that it would make roads less safe, Ms Truss told The Daily Telegraph: “We have responsible drivers in this country.”