One has to admire the nerve of Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman when he announced that work to upgrade the A14 could start as early as 2010. Perhaps he thinks nobody can remember the last start date quoted was 2009. And that was a delay from an earlie

One has to admire the nerve of Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman when he announced that work to upgrade the A14 could start "as early as" 2010. Perhaps he thinks nobody can remember the last start date quoted was 2009. And that was a delay from an earlier plan for 2008. You learn to decode the hidden messages. "As early as" defines the absolute beginning of the window in which the work is planned to start. It would be more honest to announce that work "cannot start before 2010". But that is Government spin for you.