Reading Conservatives have lost their bid to have the One Way IDR scrapped for good, after Labour and Lib Dems agreed to have an independent review of Reading's traffic problems.

Acting Conservative Group Leader Rik Willis was in fighting mood: "We Conservatives recognise the lack of support for the scheme from the public, local business as well as from neighbouring Wokingham which is why we are now voting against it and we really hope that the people of Reading and the local press are too thick to remember that we've consistently voted for the one way IDR over the last five years. With immediate effect Fred Pugh will be wearing a gag to stop him coming out in support of things which we find out later that we've opposed all along."

We asked whether this U-turn marked a fundamental change in Tory policy. "Definitely not. It is totally consistent with current Tory policy to say anything to get elected and hope the public don't twig they're being hoodwinked."