After a very chummy left-wing, back-patting discussion on the RMT’s strikes, James O’Brien’s interview with Mick Lynch took an unexpected turn as Remoaner-in-chief O’Brien tried getting Lynch to condemn Brexit. In light of the government taking back control of workers’ rights…
Far from shirking the confrontation, Lynch provided one of the most coherent and well-argued defences of the constitutional principles of Brexit heard in recent months, pointing out that having sovereignty over workers’ rights is no bad thing, and allows for these policies to be debated and thrashed out back home rather than in Brussels. Lynch’s Lexit logic was impeccable.
Asked if he’d still back Brexit today were there a second referendum, James O’Brien ended up looking crestfallen as the RMT boss refused to deny that he would. 1:0 to Mick…
As strikes continue to derail transport service today, Britain’s rail system is still on a Taxpayer-funded life support. Research from the Taxpayers’ Alliance finds that government subsidies since the pandemic have totalled a staggering £42 Billion. That’s an average of over £1,300 from every taxpayer.
The figures grew significantly during the pandemic, and still remain at historically high levels. In 2022/23 alone subsidies will amount to £11 billion. That’s almost triple the pre-pandemic level of £4.7 billion in 2018/19. This puts union demands into context. As the cost of living bites, British Taxpayers are being held to ransom for yet more handouts to the rail industry. Phil Basey, Head of Research at the TPA, said:
“Soaring subsidies demonstrate the unsustainability of current pay demands. For years taxpayers have been covering the costs of the rail industry, yet militant union bosses are now biting the hand that feeds them. Ministers must stand firm and protect taxpayers in upcoming pay deals.”
For £42 Billion, you might expect to get a functional service…
As ASLEF has announced new train strikes on January 5th, to fall between already announced RMT strikes, public opinion has reacted to Mick Lynch’s Christmas disruption. Just 12% of voters hold a favourable view of the railway baron, compared to 28% who view him negatively.
According to YouGov, this unpopularity has also extended to rail strikes more generally. 49% of voters now oppose rail strikes whilst, by a margin of 5%, they also hold unions and not the Government responsible. That’s one less headache for Rishi Sunak…
Mick Grynch has just given a train wreck of an interview on the Today Programme. As the country grinds to a halt thanks to the RMT’s rail strikes, the union’s ringleader hit the airwaves to explain himself, clearly expecting a slap on the back and a handshake.
Instead, when asked the most basic questions about declining support for the strikes and the average loss to members for picketing, Lynch threw his toys out the pram.
Asked how much it’s costing a union member to strike in terms of lost pay, Lynch fumed:
“…[You’re] pursuing an editorial line I’d read in the Sun or the Daily Mail or the Telegraph […] I find this a shocking stance that the BBC will take. You are just parroting the most right wing stuff you can get hold of on behalf of the establishment.”
To which host Mishal Husain gently replied: “They’re just questions“. This is the same Mick Lynch who sneered at GB News for not being “a proper outlet”. If even the BBC are too right-wing him now, who’s left? Novara?
As Mick Lynch has pulled the emergency brake on his pledge that rail strikes would not disrupt Christmas journeys, public support has shifted markedly away from the RMT’s industrial action. A majority of voters – 51% – now oppose the Christmas strikes, with just 37% supporting them. This is an eight-point shift since YouGov last asked. Who could have foreseen that people might not like their Christmas plans being upended…
Mick Lynch’s address to reporters outside the Department for Transport was interrupted by a particularly intrusive street preacher. For once, it was Mick, and not British rail passengers, having his plans disrupted by the righteous certainties of true believers…
After service was resumed, Mick Lynch took the opportunity to have a dig at GB News. He responded to a question from the broadcaster by asking “Is there anyone from a normal outlet?“. The clip was shared gleefully by PoliticsJOE.
Guido’s fairly sure GB News has a better record getting top political interviews than PoliticsJOE…
