Patrick Burns Political Editor West Midlands

View the Politics Show West Midlands

That is the �2bn question as the Politics Show reveals the likely cost of building extra motorway capacity in the congested M6 corridor between Birmingham and Manchester.

There are two possible options: either widen the existing M6 to an eight-lane super highway.

Or construct a brand new motorway parallel to the M6, as an extension to Britain's first Toll Motorway, the M6 Toll which bypasses Birmingham.

Either way, the new route would run from the northern end of the M6 Toll near Cannock in Staffordshire to just outside Knutsford in Cheshire.

And the cost of each of the proposals is about the same: �2bn, according to our Transport Correspondent Peter Plisner.

And even then drivers would still be expected to pay an additional toll for the privilege of using it.

Either of the plans would take over a decade to plan and construct.

But even before any decisions have been taken, the impact is being felt already at Penkridge in South Staffordshire.

Homeowner William Blower tells the Politics Show that property values in the area are falling because of the threat of a motorway just yards from his house.

Local farmer Philip Robinson says his recent investment in a new free range chicken unit will go to waste if the plans go ahead.

But the project has powerful backing. Peter has been talking to the Transport Secretary Alistair Darling about his vision for curing our motorway blues.

And members of the North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce tell him the scheme is vital to deal with costly delays on the region's roads, where local and long distance traffic converge in perpetual gridlock.

Peter will be joined live on the programme by Stoke-on-Trent's directly-elected Labour mayor Mark Meredith, and by Chris Crean of Friends of the Earth.

Mr Creen sees the proposals as yet another example of avoidable environmental destruction when the real issue is to wean us off our over-dependence on road transport.

Victory for free speech

That is how Labour's backbench rebels see it, but it was certainly another embarrassing defeat for the embattled Prime Minister.

Especially because he himself failed to take part in one of the two votes lost by his government during this week's Commons debate on its controversial Religious Hatred Bill.

Entertainers including Rowan Atkinson have been lining up to accuse the government of an attack on artistic freedom.

And with a perfect sense of theatrical timing Monday 6 February 2006 sees the opening at Birmingham Hippodrome of "Jerry Springer the Opera".

Christian groups will be protesting at what they see as a gross offence to their beliefs.

A year ago, it was another Birmingham theatre offending another faith.

The Birmingham Rep was forced to halt performances of Beshti, written by a Sikh playwright which some members of the Sikh community described as blasphemous.

Reporter Bernadette Kearney asks when one person's artistic freedom becomes another's cause for protest.

In our increasingly multi-faith communities, is a lack of tolerance curiously out of place with the traditional vision of "Britishness"?

As the "Established Church", is the Church of England entitled to more or less special treatment than other faith groups?

These are the questions Bernadette will be putting to Mohan Singh from Birmingham's Sikh temple and to Bishop Michael Whinney from the Church of England's Birmingham diocese.

Then live on the programme, we hear from one local MP who is uniquely qualified to comment on these issues.

As well as sitting as the Conservative MP for Mid Worcestershire, Peter Luff chairs the Worcester Cathedral Council. An avid theatre goer, he is also a defender of artistic freedom. Find out how he balances the argument when he appears live on the Politics Show West Midlands.

The Politics Show

Join presenter Adrian Goldberg for the Politics Show on BBC One on Sunday 12 February 2006 at 11.55am.

Ring 0845 300 1138 and leave a message.

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If you have an issue you would like us to follow up then please write to: Patrick Burns, BBC Politics Show Midlands, The Mailbox, Birmingham, B1 1RF.

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