Contributions
1,819 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDIndustrial Action on the RailwayMy hon. Friend is exactly right. He has seen through it. The leader, Mick Lynch, said that he is “nostalgic” for the union power of the ’70s, and that is exactly what they are…20 Jun 2022HANSARDIndustrial Action on the RailwayMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. This statement has been running for an hour, and we still have not heard the four simple words, “We condemn the strikes.”20 Jun 2022HANSARDIndustrial Action on the RailwayI was just checking whether the hon. Member is repeating the RMT’s handout, because what he says is factually untrue in the same way as a series of things that the RMT and Mick…20 Jun 2022HANSARDIndustrial Action on the RailwayThat is an appropriate place to end. My hon. Friend is absolutely right. People have dug deep—that is exactly what they have done; it was £600 per household. People are furious.…20 Jun 2022HANSARDIndustrial Action on the RailwayMy hon. Friend is absolutely right and she gives another example of how not condemning the strikes is being part of the problem. People must be prepared to stand up for what they…20 Jun 2022HANSARDIndustrial Action on the RailwayMy right hon. Friend is right to discuss the subsidy, which has been £16 billion as a whole through covid—or £16 billion committed, which means that we do not have the exact…20 Jun 2022HANSARDIndustrial Action on the RailwayMy hon. Friend puts it brilliantly, and she is absolutely right. It is actually callous. That is what it is. I have a daughter who is taking an exam on Thursday. Thursday is a…20 Jun 2022HANSARDIndustrial Action on the RailwayFirst, I assure the hon. Gentleman that it is anything but confected rage when I see what is happening not just to my daughter and others taking exams but to hard-pressed people…20 Jun 2022HANSARDIndustrial Action on the RailwayAs the House will recall from last week, the right hon. Gentleman receives donations from the very union that is going on strike—20 Jun 2022HANSARDIndustrial Action on the RailwayThe hon. Member may want to reflect the same question to the Mayor of London, I suppose, for the same reasons. I am delighted that Merseyrail has been able to do its thing. I do…20 Jun 2022HANSARDIndustrial Action on the RailwayI will recount, but I think it was 20 areas, and no, I have not done that, but it is the kind of modernisation we would expect. For example, I was just looking at the list, and…20 Jun 2022HANSARDIndustrial Action on the RailwayMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. She and the whole House will have noticed that while the Opposition were singing the praises of other parts of the Union, including what they…20 Jun 2022HANSARDIndustrial Action on the RailwayNo, Network Rail obviously cannot do that this week, but yes, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy will bring forward…20 Jun 2022HANSARDIndustrial Action on the RailwayI notice that the tone of the Opposition Front-Bench spokespeople has changed considerably since last week, when they each stood up and claimed that in whichever part of our great…20 Jun 2022HANSARDIndustrial Action on the RailwayMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. I caught Mick Lynch, the leader of the RMT, on TV at his press conference after he walked out of the talks, saying that there is no need for…20 Jun 2022HANSARDIndustrial Action on the RailwayThey have actually already made an offer—the hon. Lady may not be aware—that the RMT has talked about this afternoon and clearly rejected as well. She talks about the cost of…20 Jun 2022HANSARDIndustrial Action on the RailwayExactly. I think the whole House has noticed that their inability to simply say that they condemn the strikes is the most striking part of this debate. This will hurt ordinary…20 Jun 2022HANSARDIndustrial Action on the RailwayThat is very much one of the things that we are working on through the civil contingencies secretariat. I am working with my right hon. Friend Secretary of State for Digital,…20 Jun 2022HANSARDIndustrial Action on the RailwaySimilar to the right hon. Gentleman—this is where we have a lot in common—I had the very sad Hatfield rail accident in my constituency, and Potters Bar is next to where I live.…20 Jun 2022HANSARDIndustrial Action on the RailwayI pay tribute to my hon. Friend, who is a distinguished former Rail Minister and knows a great deal about the service. He is absolutely right about Passenger Assist. We are…20 Jun 2022