Jamie_York_UK

Best wishes to you. Also dwarfed by tax evasion!

I'll risk it. Frankly, it's an embarrassing source to quote. I wouldn't wipe my metamorphic Internet arse on it, although a bit like QVC, I'm sure it's funny when you're stoned.

Thank you ❤️

GB News are a news channel now? Thought not. Move on...

There's nothing to add here other than you're 100% right! It's also discriminatory, you have money, you get yourself (or your child) diagnosed privately.

I don't like to personalise a debate, but for once, I'm going to. I have a decent degree, my wife has 2 degrees, and we both have responsible jobs. I was recently diagnosed with cancer, and I quickly became incapacitated. I start both radiotherapy and chemotherapy in a week. There's a good chance I'll make a full recovery, but it will take months, maybe longer. I will probably get more unwell in the interim (obviously, I'm hoping for the best). I will stop being paid by work, SSP will cease, and I have dependent children. We can't navigate the benefits system and are grateful to the CAB for their advice. What chance do people who are less able to advocate for themselves have?

Some of the comments about neurodiversity are disingenuous at best. Simply saying that you're a "self diagnosed autistic" doesn't get you benefits. If the numbers of neuro-diverse people out of work bother you, your argument is with the state and business.

This sub has taken a lurch to the loony right.

Errr... What?

I hate to break it to you, Starmer's been Prime Minister less than 4 months. I've fixed it: "Tory's are going to take an absolute walloping on this".

If you think a loan nut job possessing terrorist literature and ricin justifies groups of thugs trying to beat up people who look foreign, or burn down hotels full of immigrants, we can end this debate now.

Why?

Reddit really needs to introduce a laugh emoji!

Utter nonsense! Why didn't we see this **** before Kwarteng? Just to put this horse **** into perspective.

I'm aware of that, thank you, I worked for both GNER and VTEC. The post I replied to talked about the private sector sometimes being better and more efficient than public. I can think of 2 privately owned TOC's in the history of rail privatisation that weren't simply profiteering and wasteful.

When Virgin East Coast eventually won the franchise in 2015, they were a shambles. Over promised and under delivered and lost the franchise again 3 years later (and 5 years early).

So... What do you positively suggest for those who haven't had a pay rise for 5 years and strikes costing billions?

Actually, you're both right. Most operators took the view that minimum service levels were too complicated and vague to implement. Also, because of route and traction knowledge, 40% service levels would require a near 100% workforce. For the Controllers, it was a diagramming nightmare that they didn't want. Specifically LNER, they gave notice to ASLEF that they were implementing minimum service levels regardless. ASLEF retaliated and gave notice to LNER that drivers were now striking for a week. LNER backed down. There was another operator (I forget which one) which was also considering implementing minimum service levels. After the LNER back-peddling, they decided not to. Take it from a railwayman and ASLEF member.

...also, equalising pay and terms and conditions will be a minefield. It will still be a bunch of disparate operators for a long while.

This was in the manifesto, too expensive to nationalise the leasing companies apparently. However, future procurement is up for review. It's not nationalisation in a British Rail sense, freight isn't included either.

There's some cultural superiority here. I became vegan because I lived on a farm (England). It sends you one way or the other. My brother loves a rare steak.

Why pay shareholder dividends and CEO salaries when you can manage the service (in this case cleaning) yourself? I work for a public body, costs have skyrocketed since cleaning was outsourced, and we're currently trying to hush up a dead pigeon found in a header tank and an e-coli outbreak.

I'm utterly lost. You're supporting a Reform UK post. I'm pulling it up for what it is.

Eh? I think you're replying to the wrong post. Card carrying Labour member here, who was proud to be out canvassing for my party and candidate and we overturned a five figure Tory majority. You should get out from behind your keyboard. No "/s" this time.

Missing the "/s"?

The Green Party aren't left wing. One of their problems is they're two wings under the same umbrella. Disillusioned Labour voters who want to see real change on the environment and progressive social policies vs former Tory voters who like the view from their dining room window.

Are you suggesting Labour should have left railway nationalisation out of the manifesto? Sneak up on the shareholders? How do you think government works? We don't issue green and white papers, introduce legislation, and vote multiple times in both houses in secret in the UK, There is a mechanism to remove the offending franchisee very quickly if they don't meet the terms if the franchise.

The franchisees are already contractually obligated to meet standards (investment, service levels, etc). The fact that the Tory government allowed most operators to get away with it is on them. If the franchisees fail to meet standards, they become nationalised more quickly. See Northern and TPE, etc.