No Frills Train Travel Expanding?

The British transport operator FirstGroup has applied for two more “open access” services outside the main train operating contracts as the government attempts to increase competition on the rail network and cut fares. Open access means the operator takes full commercial risk, running services on infrastructure owned by a third party, on a chosen route that is not subject to a rail franchise set by the Department for Transport.

Just what the railways need if they are to come into their own again!  

FirstGroup began running an open access service through its Lumo business between London and Edinburgh in October 2021, which has carried more than 2.5 million passengers so far. It says train cancellations are among the lowest in the industry. Encouraged by the success of Lumo, FirstGroup said it had recently submitted applications to the Office of Rail and Road for a new Hull Trains service between London and Sheffield, which could start in 2026, and a new Lumo service between Rochdale and London, which could begin in 2027.

I've travelled to Edinburgh on Lumo, and yes, it's a very no-frills service. Take food with you, as the trolly service only does drinks and crisps - if you want a sandwich you need to have ordered it on their website before boarding. But when every train station is full of places to pick up a sandwich, is that such a hardship? 

It has also applied for the extension of a number of Lumo’s daily services to and from Glasgow; for an additional, eighth return service on Hull Trains between London and Hull and for an extra sixth return Lumo service between London and Newcastle. If successful, these services will more than double its open access capacity over the next three to five years.

And this can only be a good thing, surely? 

Sharon Graham, the Unite general secretary, said this strengthened the case for public ownership.

Oh. Of course. I was forgetting the rail unions. 

She added: “FirstGroup is extracting colossal profits from our bus and rail networks at the expense of passengers and workers. It makes no sense to pour billions of pounds into subsidising public transport and then allow third-party operators to profiteer from them by running down jobs and services.”

How are they doing that, when they are giving passengers what they want - cheap, reliable service?  

They Can't Get The Three 'R's Right....

...so it's expecting a bit much for them to solve the Middle East conflict.

Schools in England are closing down legitimate debate about the Israel-Gaza conflict because teachers feel ill-equipped and are concerned about political impartiality, the government’s independent adviser on social cohesion has said.

I suppose teachers concerning themselves about political impartiality for once is a good thing, they've certainly never been too concerned before.  

Dame Sara Khan said that if schools continued to shut down debate they risked “fuelling further anger, hate and polarisation”. She said the conflict, which has prompted huge demonstrations by hundreds of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters across London and elsewhere, has had a marked impact on schools, where pupils want to talk about events in Gaza.

 I'm not sure there can be further 'anger hate and polarisation' from the usual suspects who stink up London's streets every weekend. .

She also said teachers felt there was too little guidance on teaching controversial issues in personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) lessons and were worried about a lack of support from the Department for Education (DfE) when difficulties arose.

When 'difficulties arise' meaning this sort of thing that sparked this whole review? Then they don't get support from ANY part of the government, so why single out the DfE? 

The war in Gaza has caused a number of incidents in schools. In one case, Barclay primary school in Leyton, east London, sought help from the Metropolitan police to investigate threats to the school and abuse of staff after its decision to ban political symbols, including the Palestinian flag.

Seeking help from the Met Police is a bit like calling an arsonist to find out why your premises burned down. It's their lack of ability to stamp down hard on this fifth column we've stupidly let into our country that has lead to this state of affairs. Other police forces don't put up with it.  

Another teacher in an inner-city school, who also wished to remain anonymous, said it was a “massive failing” on the part of schools. “From the word go, we were told this was a political issue and we can’t discuss it. If we’re not talking about it, it does not mean that the kids are not interested. They know what’s going on. They are going online where there’s no control over what they are seeing.”

The kids aren't interested. It's their parents who are pushing this, kids being kids the world over and they'd probably prefer to be worrying about what fashions are in or out and the fortunes of their preferred football team. 

The NEU has been criticised over a motion to be discussed at its annual conference which expresses support for the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and brands Israel’s government “racist” and “guilty of apartheid policies”.

So, despite the teachers complaining that they get no support, they - or rather, their union - is actively fanning the flames? 

The motion, to be debated by delegates at the gathering in Bournemouth next week, calls on the executive to “publish and circulate educational resources that members can use to increase understanding of Palestine and Israel”.It also says Israel’s government is the main driver of the conflict and calls on the UK government to stop “being an enabler of Israel’s apartheid policies”, while an amendment says all attempts to clamp down on the right to protest and discuss the issue must be opposed.

Fuck off. And when you get there, fuck off again. You're not worried about 'impartiality' at all, you just want the opportinity to cheerlead for the wrong side.  

Always Picking The Wrong Side...

Sadiq Khan has refused to use new minimum service laws to keep the London Underground running during next week's major strike.

Who could genuinely claim surprise at this? The strike has been called off at the last minute, but not - of course - because this little weasel has decided to act.

The Tube will have 'little to no service' from Monday until Thursday next week with members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union working on different parts of the network set to strike on separate days between tomorrow and January 12.

Susan Hall, the Conservative London mayoral candidate, today slammed Khan for 'inflicting mayhem on our city'.

He's done that ever since he was elected, why expect him to stop now? 

Earlier this week, Sadiq Khan was urged by the Tories to use new minimum service laws to keep the Underground running during the strike.

It comes after the first regulations aimed at ensuring minimum levels of service during strikes were brought into force by the Government on December 8.

City Hall Conservatives transport spokesman Keith Prince told MailOnline: 'Sadiq Khan needs to decide if he is the Mayor for Londoners or the Mayor for trade unions. The Strikes (Minimum Service Level) Act gives Sadiq Khan the power to intervene in next week's strikes to ensure minimum service levels on the Underground network.

'Sadiq Khan is both Mayor and chairman of TfL. Londoners will know who to blame when the Tube network grinds to a halt once again.'

Londoners always do, but when enough keep voting for him regardless, what's the alternative? 

"And Now We Go Over To Lord Of The Flies High For A Report..."

Striking teachers who walked out of a Kent academy in a row with authorities over pupil behaviour have been slammed by some locals who say they're 'bowing down' to the anti-social children they're supposed to be teaching.

I'm not normally in favour of strikes, but it must feel to these teachers as if they genuinely have no other recourse... 

The troubled school was rated inadequate by Ofsted in August 2022 due to concerns over 'bullying, racism, homophobia, vandalism and pupils' understanding of sexual consent'.

Around 20 staff formed a picket line between 7.30am and 10am today holding up placards including some saying: 'I Come to work to teach not to be abused'and 'NOT ready, not respectful not safe.'

The school, which is one of only two on the Isle, has denied repeated calls for 10-day suspensions to be handed out to students if they abuse teachers.

Then they can't really be surprised when their workers take matters into their own hands, can they? 

Deb, a nurse who moved to the Isle two years ago, ... disagreed with the strikes and says that teachers should get back to work.

'The discipline is down to the law as far as I am concerned. Just as we have to bow down to our patients, they have to bow down to their pupils.'

Anyone aware of the NHS 'bowing down' to anybody? Anyone? Bueller? 

'I'm really old fashioned. It doesn't matter what school a child is in - if they want to learn they will learn.'

'There's always been issues with pupils. And unfortunately, the issue starts with a lot of the teachers are frightened of the parents because they can be very challenging.'

If the parents are 'challenging', you can imagine how the children behave... 

The trainee, who has been there for 18 months, said: 'Students verbally abuse teachers – arguments about phones are constant as well as the use of the iPads which we loan them. 'I've seen a chair thrown at a teacher. I've seen a gang of four students chase a teacher into the staff room.

'Those who criticise us striking are wrong – regardless of what the children have said or what they've done we still go back every day and give them a clean slate.

'But if we have an incident in class and we need a student removed and we send a call out, no one comes. That's 20 minutes of learning time lost in a 50 minute session'.

Those children who are, like Deb insists, 'there to learn' are being let down. Why does no-one consider that? 

Ms Kahan and her family live in a large detached house on the same road as the Minster-on-Sea site – and have had to deal with students kicking down their fences four times since she has lived there. The multi-generational family have been left to shell out hundreds of pounds to replace the panels which stands next to a busy bus stop.

She said: 'Me and my husband have come out to speak to them so many times. These things are expensive, we've had to fix it four or five times.

'But they just give it back to us. They 100 per cent need to be disciplined more'.

Yes, they certainly do, but it appears no-one wants to, so nothing will change. 

To Mark The Occasion...

/applause for Matt, and for Sweden...

It Should Be Your Position...

An NHS trust has sparked fury after warning that immigrant doctors who take to picket lines could be referred to Border Force.

*cheers loudly* 

The message, which was circulated on social media, drew the ire of junior medics and the British Medical Association (BMA), which said it 'will unnecessarily instil fear and doubt' among doctors.

And no doubt drew the approval of all those patients whose operations and treatment will be cancelled as a result of the greed of people we are told are 'necessary' to the functioning of the NHS... 

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust has admitted that the message was from one of their staff. But a spokesperson insisted it is not their policy and apologised for the distress caused.

They added that the message was sent in a local Whatsapp group who 'made a mistake'.

'It has been corrected internally at the most senior level and we have assured our all teams, including our international colleagues, that this is not our position,' they said.

Pity. It might raise the NHS satisfaction levels a little if it was... 

Schadenfruede Is Such A Lovely Word, Isn't It..?

They should teach it in schools!

Pardon me while I rummage around in the image files. Ah, here it is!

The Only Time You'll See This Term In Close Proximity To The Words 'Border Force'...

Steve Dann, Border Force chief operating officer, said travellers should be prepared for disruption.

He said the military personnel and civil servants, "many of whom are sacrificing their Christmases", will "not be able to operate with the same efficiency as our permanent workforce".

They could hardly do worse, could they?

Tough Luck, RMT...

...the weather's going to cripple travel before your commie forces get the chance!

The RDG said it was “a fair and affordable offer in challenging times”, with revenue from fares still at about 20% below pre-pandemic levels and the industry requiring higher levels of subsidy from government to continue running. Operators were also seeking to include Sundays on contracts, rather than relying on overtime and rest day working.

Does anyone else think that's more than they should be offered given the circumstances? 

It's A Start...

...but it's a welcome one to clip the militant unions' wings:

Trade unions will be forced to put pay offers to a vote among their members as Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng plans a fresh crackdown on crippling strikes. In his 'emergency Budget' this morning, Mr Kwarteng announced new laws to ensure industrial action can only take place once talks between employers and unions 'have genuinely broken down'.

And there's more... 

Mr Kwarteng said: 'Other European countries have minimum service levels to stop militant trade unions closing down transport networks during strikes.

'So we will do the same. And we will go further.

'We will legislate to require unions to put pay offers to a member vote, to ensure strikes can only be called once negotiations have genuinely broken down.'

Why wasn't this done before, one wonders? 

Former Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, who was sacked by new Prime Minister Liz Truss this month, welcomed the Chancellor's announcement.

'This is one of the items from my 16-point-plan I presented this summer for tackling "forever strikes" and means four of the measures are now underway,' the ex-Cabinet minister said.

Ah. Well, maybe you wouldn't be an 'ex-Cabinet Minister' if you'd moved it up your plan a bit, eh, Grant? 

Where Do They Find Them..?

The 'Guardian' interviews workers and finds....well, read on:

Nick Georgiou, 63, will cycle the 13 miles from Oldham to the library in Manchester where he works part-time.He says the strike will affect some colleagues’ ability to commute, but the disruption caused by industrial action is “a necessary evil”. Georgiou backs the strikes “wholeheartedly”. “There needs to be a reckoning,” he says. “Strikes are last resort. Nobody wants to deny themselves a livelihood, [but] the only thing workers have to withdraw is their labour.”

Anne*, a 53-year-old manager of an NHS mental health team living in south London, is anticipating her whole team being affected by the Transport for London strike on Tuesday and national rail action this week. Anne explains that she feels conflicted between backing the industrial action and the need to support her team and patients and “run a safe service”. Nevertheless, she lays the blame for the disruption with the government. “I wish the government would meaningfully and consistently fund public infrastructure and the key workers who keep our city and society running. I’m tired of services being cut to the bone, everything being done on the cheap and workers being told to simply work harder to fill the gaps.”

Giles Barrett, 38, from London, runs his own recording studio and accepts that he will be affected by the strikes, but will not let that get in the way of his support for striking rail staff. “Nevertheless, I completely support the strike. Collective action is the reason we have a weekend, among many other hard-won rights, and we must never stop fighting for them – capital certainly won’t. We have decided to offer free tickets to any striking workers.”

The strikes mean David Ling, a 69-year-old pensioner, will have to book a night in a hotel in Edinburgh in order to catch his flight to Sweden on Wednesday.The 69-year-old says he has “no hard feelings at all” towards the striking rail workers and supports the strike. “There’s so many problems in this country that are caused by austerity, privatisation and cutbacks that in the end it’s gonna be a reaction. It’s not just the railway workers – it’s teachers and nurses and everything. In the end, something’s got to give. You can’t carry on cutting back and people scrimping and saving. It doesn’t work.”

How do they manage to find the people who support the strike and reflect Guardian views? Who did they interview who didn't make this report, I wonder? And how many of them were there? 

My feelings are a little more pithy:

Back To Normal, Now, Everyone!

What could be more British after a glorious long weekend of pomp and pagentry than trudging to work in the pouring rain and finding the unions are playing silly buggers again? 

*sigh* 

It was great while it lasted...

"Exams is hard, innit fam?"

Exams should use simpler language and have hard questions at the end to avoid ‘demotivating’ pupils, Ofqual has said.

*rolls eyes*

It is, of course, the drive for 'equality'. The wrong sort, naturally.  

Plans to boost ‘equality’ say GCSE and A-level papers must not disadvantage diverse groups such as migrants.

The regulator also wants papers to avoid mentioning ‘contexts’ some pupils may be unfamiliar with, such as travel or social experiences.

Or being able to go from one postcode in London to another without being stabbed?

The advice will not apply where complex language and cultural knowledge is tested, like in English and history...

Yet!

...but will be relevant in maths and science, particularly in scenario-style questions.

I can't wait to see the scenarios they will put in instead! 

The consultation on the proposed guidance, which opened yesterday [Mon], will close on January 24.

Why bother? It's undoubtedly already decided. 

Natalie Arnett, senior equalities officer for school leaders’ union NAHT, said: ‘It’s important that Ofqual ensures it considers the range of learners and seeks to put in place proactive measures to address any disadvantage or differing impact they may face.’

The fact that a union has a post like this tells you all you need to know, doesn't it? 

*Yawns*

A protest has taken place against a holiday company that has been accused of...

Overcharging? Overpromising and underdelivering? 

...mass deportations this year.

Eh..? 

The march, which has been organised by The Stop TUI campaign, started at The Level in Union Road, Brighton at 1 pm.

Oh, I might have known...

Speeches were made by high-profile members from the city, such as Lloyd Russell-Moyle, the Mp for Kemptown.

Who..? Is there another meaning of the tem 'high profile' of which I'm unaware?

Steve Jackson, the lead coordinator of Stop TUI Brighton, said: "TUI have conducted at least 20 mass deportation flights from the UK so far this year."

You're right, that is an utter disgrace. It's far too few.

"TUI must immediately drop deportations and make a public statement pledging they will not conduct any more deportation flights. All deportations are violent, racist and unjust."

And all Open Borders activists are moronic, self-absorbed and utterly inconsequential. 

You Might Have Finally Overreached...

A tube strike is set to go ahead in August over plans to scrap the Night Tube train drivers’ pay grade after negotiations broke down between the union and London Underground.

The changes would mean that instead of having a separate role for Night Tube train drivers, all drivers would be expected to work a combination of normal and night shifts.

So? Conditions change in jobs all the time. Either accept them, or find another. 

Strike action was first proposed earlier this month but the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, which represents tube drivers, has now confirmed it will go ahead next month. The union has asked all drivers not to book into work after midday for 24 hours on four separate dates - August 3, 5, 24 and 26.

But this might not have the effect it would have had pre-Covid. 

Everyone who can do so has now proved they can work from home. They've been doing it for a year and a half. So four days isn't much of a stretch.

We've all been hoping that automation will break the stranglehold the unions have held on commuters. Maybe a tiny virus, and the effect it has had on working patterns, will do so instead?

Only In The 'Guardian' Could This Be Judged A Bad Thing...

So are council snatch squads going street to street sweeping up all foreign rough sleepers? Reader, they are not:

New government guidance published in April 2021 states that migrant rough sleepers could have their permission to remain in the UK refused or cancelled if they have “repeatedly refused suitable offers of support and engaged in persistent antisocial behaviour”.

Who could possibly object to this? Well, of course, it's the usual suspects... 

Following the introduction of the new Home Office guidance in April of this year lawyers, charities and trades unions have raised the alarm that migrant rough sleepers might once again be rounded up and removed from the UK.

The lawyers, trades unions and charities are clearly concerned that they may lose some of their flock; got to keep that aid and grant money rolling in, after all! 

A report launched on Thursday by Public Interest Law Centre – Still Here: Defending the Rights of Homeless EU Citizens after Brexit and Covid-19 – has identified some groups of EU citizens who will be particularly vulnerable to removal now that the deadline for EUSS applications has passed.

Good of them to give the Home Office some pointers! 

Those at risk include working-class people from eastern and central Europe, people of colour and victims of domestic violence. The report calls for a culture change and a rights-based approach to protect these groups.

What about a rights-based approach to the UK citizens with a right to live here, and who don't hang around in shop doorways begging, for a change? 

But He Is 'Upholding Trust In The Profession' - Unlike MMU...

A teacher trainee was hauled before a fitness to practise meeting after saying...

Wait, wait! *settles in with popcorn* 

...he 'would not hesitate' to use images of the Prophet Mohammed in a class - sparking a fierce backlash from freedom of speech advocates.

Good! It's about time someone started fighting back. Clearly, the Department of Education isn't up to it. 

The Batley, West Yorkshire teacher and his family are still under police protection, and the threat to their safety is judged as so severe that even their relatives do not know where they are now living, more than six weeks after fleeing their home.

That this can happen in 2021 in a functioning First World democracy is a stain on Britain's reputation. And that the establishment, in the form of the educational block, has decided to punish those who speak out against it is yet a further reminder of how debased it now is... 

The MMU student, who is set to complete his Postgraduate Certificate in Education course this summer, had written an email to his course leader on April 1 saying he worried about the 'cowardly response from the unions and other bodies connected to teaching', The Telegraph reports.

'I would like to know whether or not MMU is prepared to stand up for any student who finds themselves in a similar position,' he added, arguing that the protests which arose amid the row were a 'clear attempt to enforce a de facto blasphemy law on teachers and schools'.

Well, now you know! The answer's a resounding 'No'. 

The fitness meeting could result in a referral to a Fitness to Practise Panel following the MMU student's comments claiming he would be willing to show the picture of Mohammed in class, he was told.

The head of department told him it could be a breach of Teachers' Standards - which include upholding 'public trust in the profession'.

He's doing that. You're most definitely not! 

It's Already Difficult To Recruit Male Teaching Staff...

The National Education Union's (NEU) annual conference heard that a 'toxic laddish culture' pervades the country's secondary schools and sexism 'stalks the corridors and classrooms'.

Gosh! Really? Just in class? When the bell rings, chivalry reigns once more?

Earlier, Ofsted's chief inspector Amanda Spielman suggested that sexual abuse among pupils could be 'happening outside of school' rather than being caused by a culture problem within institutions.

Didn't think so. For anyone else, this is a problem for parents to solve. But oh no!  

At the National Education Union's (NEU) annual conference, Amy Kilpatrick, from Newcastle, said it is 'absolutely the case' that the 'overwhelming levels of sexism and sexual harassment' in schools need to be addressed. She added: 'In order to achieve the drastic changes we want to see, then we must educate our boys, our male teachers and support staff.'

Struggle sessions for all, comrades! 

Delegates voted for male teachers and boys to learn about sexism and its roots - and to develop methods to challenge their peers - in order to 'proactively support women and girls'.

Richard Rieser, from Hackney in east London, called on men to 'own up and take responsibility' for sexism.

He told the conference: 'It isn't something where you can sit on the sidelines. You are either anti-sexist, anti-misogynist and do it as part of your professional work. Or, if you are silent, you are acquiescing to the dominant sexism that stalks the corridors and classrooms of our schools throughout this country.'

"You're either with us, or against us!" would have been a shorter slogan... 

The Definition Of 'Key Workers' Is Stretched A Bit Too Far Here...

Cycle couriers will NOT be made exempt from rules against cycling on pedestrianised streets in York - despite calls from a union for permits to allow riders to cycle through the city centre.

Well, good! But you know there's a 'but' coming, don't you?

But City of York Council will look at whether couriers delivering food and other services by bike should be allowed to cycle on pedestrianised streets in future.

I'm not sure that No 23's chicken tikka getting a little bit cooler is worth a pensioner being run down by one of these two wheeled maniacs..  

York's pedestrian zone was extended under emergency powers during the pandemic and cyclists are not allowed to cycle on pedestrian streets during the hours 10.30am to 5pm during lockdown or Tier 3 restrictions or 10.30am to 8pm at other times.

But cycle couriers say that having to walk their bicycles along these streets causes delays and costs them earnings.

Get another job, then. 

What More Do You Need...?

...to realise they don't work for you, but for themselves?

Most independent schools and top-performing state schools have rolled out full days of live lessons via Zoom and other video platforms since the new national lockdown came into force. But large numbers of secondaries and primaries, particularly in poorer areas, are relying on pre-recorded lessons, YouTube videos and online worksheets for their pupils.

In a poll of 800 parents last week, almost a third said their children were not receiving any live lessons, suggesting that as many as three million pupils may not be having interactive video contact with their teachers during the lockdown.

So much for the teaching unions being concerned for the welfare of children... 

...militant teaching unions – which strongly urged teachers not to live-stream lessons last summer – said teachers must be able to choose whether to live-stream lessons or not and that it should only be used ‘when essential’.

And who gets to decide that? They do! 

The National Education Union appeared to suggest that only pushy parents want live lessons, adding that the call for live teaching is ‘often related to minority, but insistent, parental pressure’.

I thought it would be a goal of teaching that parents should be interested in their children's education? Silly me! 

And just to run salt in the wound, you won't believe the excuses they come up with... 

Guidance from the NASUWT teaching union even raises privacy concerns about pupils recording teachers’ live lessons on their phones and uploading them to pornography websites. The union ‘strongly advises members to not participate in live video lessons to pupils’ homes unless they are sure that measures are in place to prevent such inappropriate practices’.

You couldn't make it up, could you?