THE Conservative Party has launched a 10-point motorists' charter in which it opposes 'unfair' congestion charges and Government plans for workplace car park space charging. As transport becomes one of three key battlegrounds on which the next General Election will be fought - Europe and taxation are the other two - the Tories also say they would abandon the annual fuel duty escalator which, at present rates, could see the £7 gallon by 2004.

Claiming that the Government was conducting a 'vindictive campaign against the car', shadow Transport Minister Bernard Jenkin said a 'fair deal for the motorist' charter opposed any additional taxes on drivers. 'Under Labour, Britain is grinding to a standstill,' he said. While falling short of commenting on Government proposals for the reform of company car tax, Jenkin said: 'The treatment of the company car is a very important issue and we want the company car driver to be treated fairly.'

Claiming that the Government was making a £26 billion profit from motorists - raising £32billion but spending £6billion on roads - he said: 'Britain's roads are the arteries of our national economy. Only the Conservatives hold the core belief that the car remains a force for good. Labour is anti-car. They see motorists as nothing but a tax-raising opportunity. They are taxing ordinary people off the road, putting up business costs and destroying jobs.'