ASLEF boss Mick Whelan – are all rail union leaders required to have the name Mick? – was late to his own Euston picket line this morning, in his own words thanks to the “bloody rail strike”. At least he’s got a sense of humour… 

As ASLEF yesterday announced yet another round of strikes, all the while Britain’s railways continue to crumble, their union boss has met the same fate on the broadcast round. Mick Whelan appeared on the Today programme and was left fumbling when pressed on the reality of train driver pay. Nick Robinson pointed out that drivers had gained a 17% pay rise, in real terms, over the past decade. The national average is 1%.

Robbo’s charge that “you’ve been doing very well, Mr Whelan, haven’t you?” was met by a period of confused mumbling as the rail baron scrambled for a response. If Nick thought his drivers were doing well, wait until he finds out what Mick earns…

This all comes as new polling conducted for the New Statesman found support for strikes is strongly correlated with earnings. A strong majority, 52%, Oppose those earning over £50,000 going out on strike, with just 17% supporting them. The New Statesman conveniently includes a low estimate for train driver’s starting salaries in their article, of £24,000, this doesn’t account for their rapid rise upon qualification. Even the Guardian is happy to admit they do average over £50,000…

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…

It turns out you can buy friendly coverage from Channel 4 journalists for roughly £40. With the rail strikes continuing for another day, Channel 4 News‘ Cathy Newman feared her planned trip up to Leeds would be derailed. Imagine the horror. As luck would have it, the LNER’s Head of Customer Relations was on-hand to save the day, upgrading Newman to first-class for her entire journey, and even ensuring her train departed a minute early. An early Christmas miracle – one which Newman had to share with her 241,000 Twitter followers…

Unfortunately, when Cathy realised it wasn’t a great reflection of her journalistic talents to lap up a train company’s PR stunt in the middle of a strike, she deleted the post. At least any company looking for a Channel 4 puff piece in future know how much it costs. A standard ticket from King’s Cross to Leeds costs £34.80; first class costs £76. Cough up £41.20, pour her a coffee, and Cathy will sort your PR out…

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…