As Labour announce its plans to nationalise railways, the free-market think tanks have already got the wheels rolling to warn against the socialist idea. Nationalisation stifles competition and innovation – a repeat of the 70s isn’t something anyone wants…
The Institute of Economic Affairs blasted the”lacking in detail” proposal, writing “the ritual denunciation of profits and the belief that ‘communities’ (or rather political bosses) have a role to play; but their role always seems to be to demand more money, resist closures, and open more lines, irrespective of any commercial discipline.”
The Adam Smith Institute‘s Director of Research Max Marlow pointed out how nationalisation hasn’t worked in past: “Nationalisation would be completely counter productive. During the 47 years of nationalised railways in the UK, passenger numbers collapsed and service was abysmal, even shocking by modern standards”. Guido’s sure Labour would respond with something along the lines of “it’ll work this time”…
Leaders in the rail industry have also hopped aboard to attack the plans. Andy Bagnall, chief executive of Rail Partners, said that “nationalisation is a political rather than a practical solution which will increase costs over time”. Just this morning the Shadow Transport Secretary admitted it wouldn’t lower fare costs…
Meanwhile, details on just how much this would cost are scant. The House of Commons Library’s Economic Policy and Statistics clerk says: “The government would be taking on all the costs involved with running the services, which are significant, and would be responsible for generating revenues from the services… I am afraid I am not able to produce an estimate myself and have not found a reliable estimate made by another organisation.” Off the rails…
Labour have today pledged to renationalise most passenger rail services within five years if they grab the keys to Downing Street, bringing the railways under state control. Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh went on the Today Programme to try and sell the idea to listeners. Unsurprisingly, she wasn’t too convincing…
She repeatedly said “I can’t promise we will lower fares“, and even when faced with the question that fares could actually go up under the plans, Haigh didn’t deny it. Instead she rolled out the line that fares would be “simpler“. Simpler doesn’t mean cheaper…
An entire year has passed since the Labour Party suspended Diane Abbott pending investigation for setting up her own handy racism hierarchy. Soon enough she declared the racism investigation racist…
Guido checked with Labour today that the investigation was still ongoing. They must really be poring over those 126 words…
When Starmer asked Abbott what he could do to help in the wake of Tory donor Frank Hester’s fruity remarks, she said “You could restore the whip.” No such luck. Her chum Angela Rayner has so far been unsuccessful in getting her back into the fold…
Internal sources say she ain’t coming back. Starmer has already called the comments antisemitic. Maybe they could wind up their extensive investigation. Judging by Bercow’s record stint under the spotlight Guido isn’t sure they will…
With London Mayoral election day next week, Khan’s team are eyeing a third term. Feeling certain of victory, they are getting careless…
Guido can reveal a video recording of a meeting from the second week of March addressed by Khan’s Deputy Mayor for Business, Howard Dawber, hosted at City Hall to discuss the role played by British Bangladeshi SMEs. After stating “unfortunately I’m not Bangladeshi but I’d like to be“, Dawber appears to urge the room to come out and help people vote for Labour:
“Obviously we have an election coming up, I need to mention that, on 2nd May. Those of you who are in London, I can’t, I don’t think I am allowed to say which way you should vote, but I do want you to vote, please. And if you were going to support us, take the day off, now arrange to take the day off, come out and help us to get other people, as it is going to be on turnout. If our voters come out we are fine. If they don’t come out we are not fine.”
According to GLA’s Guidance on Political Restriction, Deputy Mayors must not “speak to the public at large or to a section of the public with the apparent intention of affecting public support for a UK political party“. Dawber is politically restricted. Neil Garratt, group leader of City Hall Conservatives group, tells Guido:
“Mayor Khan’s Deputy appears to be hosting Labour Party election rallies at City Hall disguised as official events, misusing taxpayer funded facilities for party political use. Did they also fundraise for Labour at these dodgy events?”
Dawber, Khan’s most recent hire, on a salary of £141,406, may be in trouble. Guido has contacted Khan’s office for a comment. What will Khan say?
UPDATE: A London Labour spokesman said:
“As the recording shows, the Deputy Mayor is clear that he is not telling anybody how to vote. However, the choice on May 2 is clear: a pro-business Labour mayor building a better London for everyone, or the Tories’ Susan Hall who will take London backwards and doesn’t even mention business or jobs in her manifesto.”
Yvette Cooper has got no better at defending Angela Rayner since she was last hauled out to do so. She said on Good Morning Britain in defence of Rayner’s refusal to publish her exonerating “expert” tax advice: “We don’t routinely publish personal finance information in this country.” That’s despite hypocrite Rayner insisting that a Tory candidate publish their full tax return and Starmer pledging last year to publish Rayner’s on an annual basis…
Cooper was very quick to say that she hadn’t seen Rayner’s “expert” advice as Richard Madeley asked: “Is Keir Starmer frightened to look at it because of what he might see?” Labour politicians are too smart to look at it because they know it will not adequately support the facts…
The defence was floated last week that a kitchen renovation in Rayner’s Vicarage Road house (which would have to be worth £23,000) offset the capital gains tax liability. The reason that hasn’t appeared again is that, if Rayner were to use the defence, it would contradict her version of reality – that she was living at Vicarage Road while her family lived at her husband’s house – because you don’t pay any capital gains tax on your primary residence so “improvements” are irrelevant. To say that the renovation offset tax is to admit primarily living elsewhere…
A neighbour over on Lowndes Lane is this week insisting that Rayner lived full time at her husband’s property. This isn’t going away…
Starmer has written to Labour’s PPCs ahead of St. George’s day tomorrow instructing them to mark the occasion “with enthusiasm” and to “fly the flag”. If they’ve already got in a tizzy over the Union Flag on leaflets how will they cope with this…
Fresh polling on Sunday carried out by Lord Ashcroft reveals that one in eight 2019 Labour voters say that the St George Cross is racist. Only 56% of 2019 Labour voters agree that the flag is “a symbol to represent England and no one should be offended by it” – that’s compared to 9/10 Tory voters. A substantial 13% (along with 8% of LibDems) said the symbol is “racist and divisive and should not be displayed”. Guido can think of one Labour figure who has been valiantly raising these concerns for years…
