Sir Keir Starmer was last night accused of fast-tracking his flagship transport policy of re-nationalising the railways to please his union ‘paymasters’.
In a highly unusual move, ministers have chosen to bypass the traditional process such laws go through when MPs debate it in the Commons next week.
Rather than being scrutinised by a Public Bill Committee, the Government has opted for a Committee of the Whole House.
It means the law to re-nationalise the railways, a long-held demand of union bosses, can pass weeks and possibly even months quicker.
The fast-track measure is usually reserved for emergency legislation, such as during the Covid-19 pandemic when it was used to bring in social distancing rules speedily.
Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan on the picket line at Euston train station in London on April 5
Sir Keir Starmer was last night accused of fast-tracking his flagship transport policy of re-nationalising the railways to please his union ‘paymasters’
Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan doing media interviews on the picket line at Euston train station in London on April 5
It is also used following budgets so that tax and spending changes can happen quickly.
This month the Government handed train drivers a 14.25 per cent pay hike, over three years, only for their Aslef union to call fresh strikes 48 hours later.
It emerged last night that the Government has offered the militant RMT the same as Aslef. It means guards and station staff will get a 4.75 per cent hike for last year and 4.5 per cent this year.
It came as the PM was also accused of prioritising the demands of the unions over passengers after figures showed delays on lines that have already been re-nationalised are more than twice as bad.
Analysis of official data shows there was an average of 136,328 minutes of delays on lines run by private train firms last year.
But for those already back in public ownership, there were 311,202 minutes on average per operator – the equivalent of 216 extra days of delays.
Meanwhile, lines which have already been brought into public ownership have been hit with 50 per cent more strike action.
RMT union general secretary Mick Lynch leaves the Department for Transport in Westminster on August 20
Members of the Aslef union on a picket line near to Leeds train station on February 1
Tory transport spokesman Helen Whateley said: ‘Keir Starmer is no doubt keen to shift the spotlight off Labour’s cronyism and cruelty to pensioners.
‘He is fast-tracking rail nationalisation plans to please his paymasters.
‘Just weeks after promising to put country before party, Keir appears to have a new slogan: Unions First.’
The Department for Transport was contacted for comment.
