Star comment: Working together is a lesson

Tensions were high, unpleasant things were said that could not later be unsaid, campaigners were pilloried and extremism found an unwelcome voice.

Contrast those two episodes, however, with the cross-party, cross-border work taking place in Shropshire and Mid Wales.

MPs of all political hues have joined together with a common cause. While some spout platitudes about working together for the greater good before kicking political footballs into the long grass, those closer to home appear to be practicing what they preach.

Ideological differences are being cast aside by MPs for North Shropshire, Clwyd South and Wrexham. Owen Paterson, Sue Elan Jones and Ian Lucas presented a united front when they lobbied for road improvements during a meeting with Welsh Roads Minister Ken Skates.

Their message will be amplified further when British transport minister John Hayes visits Shropshire in 2017.

Their common cause is improvements to the A483 and A5, which provide arterial routes through Shropshire and Wales. There would be considerable benefits to the economy and safer travel for all.

We have seen in recent times that though we are living through an era of austerity and cutbacks, the Government can find the money for infrastructure improvements when it has the political will.

The M54 and A5 near Shrewsbury underwent a substantial upgrade. While a number of schemes there ran into delays, the ultimate results were improved journeys for drivers.

In no small part, that will be down to the efforts of politicians who have found that collaboration rather than confrontation yields the best results. It would be encouraging if other politicians took a leaf from their book.

Pot shots between rival Shropshire councils and health bodies in recent times, have yielded no improvements but prolonged disputes. Conciliatory voices are a power for good.

It is to be hoped they will bring better roads to the region and set an example to others.