A Treasury minister floundered on live radio this morning, unable to address key questions regarding a Government-backed initiative. Emma Reynolds appeared on LBC to promote an impressive £1 billion funding boost for transport but ended up in hot water when quizzed about the Lower Thames Crossing, which has just secured £590 million today.

The Treasury’s economic secretary was left scrambling as she failed to pinpoint the exact location or total cost of the project. Adding to her woes, she incorrectly called the existing thoroughfare the “Dartmouth tunnel”, mixing up the town in Devon with Dartford. Challenged on the new crossing’s specific starting and ending points, she admitted: “You’ll forgive me, I can’t recall the exact landing zone.”

Ms Reynolds is the economic secretary to the Treasury. (Image: Getty)

She tried to clarify the significance of the Lower Thames Crossing, suggesting it would benefit lorries travelling from the Midlands and the North to major ports in the south east.

Ferrari responded: “It’s almost like you were reading from a piece of paper there, isn’t it? You don’t actually know where it takes off from or where it lands, do you?”.

As she struggled to answer, he informed her: “Let me tell you, it’s Gravesend in Kent and Tilbury in Essex.” In a heated exchange, she admitted “it’s going to cost quite a lot of money” and predicted the figure to be “several billion pounds”.

Ferrari challenged her further: “How many? You don’t know that either do you actually? I don’t mean to be rude to you personally.

“Is there much point continuing this conversation, because you don’t know where a bridge starts, you don’t know where it ends and you don’t know how much it costs? Is there any point continuing?”

He then questioned: “What does this say about the economic stewardship of this country that someone in your position of importance, you don’t know where a bridge starts, you don’t know where it ends, and you don’t know much it costs.”

Ms Reynolds responded, trying to redirect the conversation: “I’m here to talk about the broader infrastructure plan as well that we will be launching later this week.”

The interview foreshadowed the unveiling of the Government’s ambitious 10-year infrastructure strategy.

With Rachel Reeves‘s Spending Review unveiling an unprecedented £15.6bn towards major transport projects in the North and Midlands, the forthcoming strategy is eagerly anticipated.

Within these plans, £590m has been earmarked for the Lower Thames Crossing to alleviate Dartford’s traffic woes, as part of a generous £1bn fund to rejuvenate crumbling bridges, roads, and tunnels.