Local MP, Gordon Prentice, hopes Jack Straw will swap his Justice portfolio for Transport in a bid to force a change in Government policy and cut deaths on Britain's roads.

Speaking from Nelson this week, the MP said: “All my Parliamentary colleagues in East Lancashire, including Justice Secretary, Jack Straw, are signed up to the Lancashire Telegraph's Wasted Lives campaign, which regularly throws a spotlight on the terrible carnage on our roads.  The campaign calls for graduated licences as one part of the solution.  I have no doubt that if Jack were Transport Secretary we would see a change in policy.”

"The problem is almost exclusively with young men.  Some of them drive as if they are immortal, and they are not.  The Government has, unfortunately, ignored compelling evidence and rejected calls for graduated licences for new drivers.”

The Pendle MP has just received the Parliamentarian of the Month award from Brake - the road safety charity - for his campaigning work.

Prentice led a Commons debate on road safety last July when he developed the case for the graduated licence, originally put forward  by the Parliamentary Transport Committee.

Next week, 10—16 November, is Road Safety Week.