From the constant vacillating and hand-wringing, concessions and retractions that have been going on since John Prescott's new transport measures were introduced in the Queen's Speech three weeks ago, it's clear that the government believes it has a problem.

The new measures, aimed at forcing motorists out of their cars and on to public transport, include congestion-charging and workplace parking levies that could add as much as £4,000 to the [...]