Transport ministers have pinned Burnham’s new train driver pay rise deal on Keir Starmer. Are they embarrassed about it too?
A deal announced in September gave Avanti drivers a single-year rise of 3.6%, beating inflation of 2.9% by 0.7 points, plus time-and-a-half pay on Sundays and up to £720 for working a fifth day. That’s on top of starting salaries of around £70,000…
Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden asked whether No10 North or Burnham’s new Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet were consulted on the deal. Keir Mather replied:
“The recent pay settlement reached at Avanti West Coast, with ASLEF, was taken forward in line with principles for 2026 rail pay settlements agreed with the previous Prime Minister’s office before No.10 North’s establishment.”
Mather did not say whether Burnham’s operation was consulted. It’s the line to No10 North…
Shortly after Burnham announced that Avanti would be nationalised because it was so poor. The unions are creaming it and ensuring terrible service…
Robert Jenrick on the Today programme:
“Can you now give a guarantee to your listeners this morning that no BBC presenter in the future will be exposed as a paedophile, as a number have been in the recent past? No, of course you can’t…”