Spellar's scripted 'Voice of reason'
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• Speaking at last week's Road Haulage Association luncheon, Transport Minister John Spellar gave the industry no indication of any future concessions that may be offered to hard-pressed hauliers. Instead he concentrated on the measures announced in last year's Budget and the government's commitment to these.
However, when °Masked the DOT for a copy of the speech, It arrived with a cover page which underlines the speech's careful political scripting. It states: "Private office has advised that the Minister will speak for up to 15 minutes and that he therefore wants six pages of text in 14-point double spacing."
It goes on: "Tone: Conciliatory, voice of reason, listening carefully (at the Road Haulage Forum). Light on figures and environmental messages."