History shows that the more power governments have to boss people about, the more they actually hate the private car. Governments know, and libertarians know, that the car is nothing to do with transport at all, and everything to do with freedom. Brian Appleyard made this very point forcefully in the Telegraph some years ago.

Having a private car means you can go where you want, when you want, and with exactly whom you want (or more importantly, don't want.) The freest societies all have the most cars; the ex-Warsaw pact countries are filling up with cars, and especially vans - even old, battered western European cast-offs - faster than you can count, and I rejoice for them.

The Soviet Empire grudgingly provided vast, industrialised public transport systems (they look great, even today) because it was an excuse for lots of smoky machinery, steel-foundries and big colourful stamps. Whether stuff or people moved at all was immaterial. The stories of food rotting for months in wagons are all true.

Cars are wonderful. They free us from tyranny; let's start saying so. Also, how Mr Prescott expects us to run small businesses in a customer-driven society in the millennium while only using public transport, beats me!