"Government doesn't really care" says Simon Calder

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From Yahoo News

Rishi Sunak has “no interest” in ending the long-running UK^▸ (United Kingdom) train strikes, Simon Calder has suggested.

The Independent’s Travel Correspondent also described Mr Sunak as the “most anti-rail prime minister we have ever seen” during an appearance on BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Politics London on Sunday 21 January.

“He’s got no interest in settling the incredibly long-running - we are now in the third calendar year of strikes by Aslef train drivers - and it’s now increasingly seen as an election wedge issue,” Mr Calder said.

“The government doesn’t really care.”

[ellendune]

The poll seems to have been misworded. If the you agree that they want it to run onto the election surely its a yes?

[grahame]

The poll seems to have been misworded. If the you agree that they want it to run onto the election surely its a yes?

I thought carefully.

Simon Calder suggest they don't care - if you agree, vote YES.

If you don't agree with Simon and think the government cares, vote NO
It could be ...
NO, the government does care about the outcome - they want it fixed or
NO, the government does care about the outcome - they want it to carry on.

[Electric train]

The current Government only cares about keeping a grip on the myriad or "rebill" groups within their Parliamentary party, and scrimping money from all public services to fund a cut in tax at the next budget.

All political parties are guilty of this 

[CyclingSid]

When was the last time you saw Sunak on a train? They don't do private trains, so it has to be private jets.

[Mark A]

When was the last time you saw Sunak on a train? They don't do private trains, so it has to be private jets.

A couple of weeks ago, the sleeper to Kiev and back? Never thought the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) might be improved by a no-fly zone for North Yorkshire, or between Handsacre and Crewe, but there you go.

Mark

[Richard Fairhurst]

He reputedly does use LNER^» (London North Eastern Railway - about) quite often on the way to/from his Richmond constituency. I guess Prime Minister is one of the jobs which pays enough to afford the new LNER fares.

[Bob_Blakey]

I believe that our government would like the rail industry disputes resolved but ONLY on their terms. Which probably means that ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) are not going to get what they are asking for unless they move to a continuous run of nationwide strike action.

[IndustryInsider]

Which probably means that ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) are not going to get what they are asking for unless they move to a continuous run of nationwide strike action.

Yes, and ASLEF are pretty much out of ideas, hence the very infrequent strike action.  Just enough to remind everyone there’s a dispute.  They don’t want to ‘go big’ in case the strike collapses.  Their plan being to wait for a change of government and hope that a change of government leads to a modest change of strategy.

[TaplowGreen]

I think on balance the Government would like it sorted out but it's so far down the list of priorities and unlikely to win or lose many votes no matter what happens that it's not really getting much attention - a marginal issue now that so many people can make arrangements to work remotely with the notice the Unions have to give.

It's become part of the landscape for customers who are learning to make alternative plans - ultimately it's only the railway that will suffer longer term with ongoing strikes.

[grahame]

I think on balance the Government would like it sorted out but it's so far down the list of priorities ...

[snip]

It's become part of the landscape for customers who are learning to make alternative plans - ultimately it's only the railway that will suffer longer term with ongoing strikes.

The poll has just closed:
The government WOULD like it sorted   - 4 (10.8%)
The government doesn't care / mind   - 26 (70.3%)
The government want it to run on to an election   - 6 (16.2%)

Don't know   - 1 (2.7%)

Not a lot of faith in the government wanting a solution. "Ultimately it's only the railway that will suffer longer term with ongoing strikes" - sadly, I agree with that.   I agree, but I do not like - which is why I did not click on "like".

[CyclingSid]

now that so many people can make arrangements to work remotely

Maybe not for the Civil Service, whose management appraisal has been modified to query how many staff are in the office.

Could be problematical for my organisation who have downsized to a new head office (before the old one was demolished around them) although the head count has possibly increased.