Treasury Minister Struggles Answering £10bn Lower Thames Crossing Details

Economic Secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds faced criticism after struggling to provide key details about the Lower Thames Crossing during a live interview on LBC Radio, despite the government committing an additional £590 million to the project. Reynolds mistakenly referred to the existing Dartford crossing as the 'Dartmouth tunnel' and was unable to recall the exact location or total cost of the new crossing, which is estimated by National Highways to cost between £9.2 billion and £10.2 billion. The Lower Thames Crossing will link Essex and Kent through two tunnels under the Thames, connecting major routes such as the A2, M2, A13, and M25, and is set to be the UK's longest road tunnel at 2.6 miles. The project aims to reduce congestion at Dartford and improve the resilience of a key freight route critical to trade with Europe, as highlighted by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander. Despite the gaffes, Downing Street expressed full confidence in Reynolds, and the funding forms part of the government's broader 10-year infrastructure plan, which also includes investment in the repair of other transport infrastructure. The interview drew pointed remarks from presenter Nick Ferrari, who questioned the usefulness of continuing the discussion given Reynolds' lack of specifics.