The question of who should lead the UK in this time of challenge and opportunity is of course gripping Westminster. It is right that it should have proper attention. To my mind the country needs and wants an experienced and trusted pair of hands to deal with the inevitable complexities of the immediate task in hand.
However whatever the future holds as I said in Prime Minister’s Questiontime last week there are issues that need addressing now. One such is airport expansion. It is not in the national interest that this decision has been postponed yet again and it is grossly unfair for all those living around Gatwick still to have this hanging over them. Additionally for many in Horsham the issue which impacts their lives, their jobs, increasingly for some their health is the daily battle on the trains.
Having secured the Prime Minister’s commitment on increased compensation, with fellow MPs I met the General Secretary of the RMT on Monday. Depressingly I found little inclination to come to an agreement. GTR and the Unions both appeared before the Transport Select Committee where the “take-away” from MPs seemed to be that the safety argument for a conductor closing train doors as opposed to the driver had little basis. The rail regulator, ORR, has deemed the practice to be safe. There is a strong argument for a second member of staff on trains but that is a different debate.
For non-train users I cannot adequately convey the sheer frustration of those that are (and pay so much for the privilege). Southern’s new Emergency Timetable may be a reflection of reality but announcing the cancellation of hundreds of services – services which were advertised when commuters bought their season tickets - will not win “hearts and minds”, nor will the inevitable over-crowding. I have demanded that Southern make themselves available in a public meeting in Horsham to take questions and provide explanations direct to passengers. Alex Foulds, their Passenger Service Director will be doing so this Saturday morning (9th July). If you would like to attend, please email me on jeremy.quin.mp@parliament.uk with your contact details