Posted 6th October 2014 | 5 Comments
RMT leader floats plan for new political party
THE new general secretary of the RMT Mick Cash has condemned Labour plans to allow public sector bids for passenger rail franchises as 'a mad idea'.
It also seems that he may be gaining the grudging respect of some right wing politicians.
He was confirmed as the successor to Bob Crow as the union's leader last month, and has now raised the idea of creating a new political party because of his increasing disillusionment with Labour and its rail policies.
The RMT was expelled from the Labour Party ten years ago, and there had been speculation that the choice of 'moderate' Mick Cash as general secretary might have started a process of reconciliation.
However, he no longer believes that Labour is in touch with the country, as it has succumbed to a whirl of special advisors and other political professionals.
In an interview with the Independent, Mick Cash said: "If you see what’s happening to the Labour Party recently just on rail nationalisation – the Tories have renationalised the track; we called for the Labour Party to renationalise the train operating companies and what not, and all they have turned round and said is that they’ll just allow public-sector bids.
“That’s mad, a mad idea. They’re doing it because they said they don’t want to upset business. That’s a good working-class party, isn’t it, that doesn’t want to upset business?"
Whether a new left-wing party is set to emerge will depend to some extent on the outcome of the general election in May.
He explained: "Depending on what happens next year, if one or two large trade unions start to say we need an alternative, they have the organisation and the financial clout to start developing a political party that could have its roots back in the working class.
“When you seek to create an alternative political force, it’s not just about having money, it’s also about having an organisational structure and about having a good set of policies and getting stuck in on the ground – having local parties, and councillors, and stuff like that.
“You would need patience from those who believe there should be an alternative. It’s not an easy option, but its do-able. Look at UKIP. They’ve somehow managed to get in that position.”
The Independent also quotes a 'prominent Tory' who reacted to Mick Cash by saying: "Although Bob Crow fought very hard for his members, he was also an asset to us because he was a threatening figure. We could tell people to stick with us or this is what you get.
"Cash will say and do the same things, but he will sound much more reasonable, which could make him more dangerous."
Reader Comments:
Views expressed in submitted comments are that of the author, and not necessarily shared by Railnews.
james Palma, London
To be quite frank, most people do not care who operates their railway. They just want to get from A to B comfortably, cheaply and safely, whehter by car, coach, bus, train, or plane. This was demonstarated by a 'You Gov' survey recently.
Additionally, there is not really any competition between railway companies or even other transport modes. If I want to go to Aberdeen from London (something I do regularly), I use the plane (1hr 45mins door to door). If I want to go on the train I use the one out of Kings Cross as I would if I wanted to go to Edinburgh (but I use the plane for their too). Why? because I live 15 minutes from the airport and it costs at least half the price and time to fly than the train.
If I want to go to Liverpool (again something I do regulalry) I go to the one from Euston. If I want to go to Brighton I use the car, because it costs even more than half the price to get there with two adults and two children than going all the way to Victoria on the underground and then taking the train.
See my point? What is the best and cheapest mode. company is irrelevant, as I either have no option but to use that route or company.
Roshan, Leeds
Melvyn Windebank makes a very good point on how railways should be run. I think open-access operators are vital as they encourage competition and innovation from private companies. Open-access operators in the UK also have the highest customer satisfaction rates and and are the best value for money. East Coast also owes some of its improvement down to competition with open-access operators. I believe going back to a competitive free-market structure would be best for our railways.
Philip McGaw, Manchester
what about supporting the Green Party? Who seem to be a union friendly pro nasalisation party.
Also pro rail
Tony Pearce, Reading
There is of course a Economic Bible for the 'left' written by a British Economist called E. F. Schumacher (Chief Economic Advisor to UK National Coal Board for 20 Years) entitled - 'Small Is Beautiful: a study of economics as if people mattered'. It is regarded as one of the most influential books since World War 2. However if I understand it correctly, it does not like 'big' organisations like Network Rail or British Rail which it regards as too large to either cater for - or understand properly - the needs of its employees or customers. Taken to its logical conclusion, it would advise that UK Railways are broken up into lots more 'Franchises' with organisations of around 100 staff running their own local Rail Service. The theory is that maybe small companies or Councils would run and maintain their 'firm' for the benefit of themselves and the local Community. Everyone would be more satisfied. Its an ideal situation that I'm not against. But does the Union really understand 'left' economics because they too would be regarded as too big with too much influence.
Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex
The irony of franchises being let to DB and SNCF is that further puts of our railway is state owned it's just its foreign state owned !
Whether this can be dealt with is more a question of agreements with other EU countries or do we ban state owned companies from placing tenders and if so who other than bus companies will fill the gap ?
I think the London Overground and Merseyrail show a better way forward with concessions instead of franchises becoming more widespread on commuter networks with private companies competing for business on inter city routes .