Comments by "Mark Welch" (@markwelch3564) on "James O'Brien: Why has Grant Shapps done 'nothing' to prevent rail strikes? | LBC" video.

  1. ​ @pickledaardvark1532  So what you are saying, is the Tories have found something worse than slavery for the lowest paid?
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  2. The Tories are already blaming Labour somehow. Can you imagine the Daily Mail headlines if Starmer was actually on the picket line? It's sad that the Mail is so influential and partisan, but that's the truth of it 🙁
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  3.  @tjenadonn6158  Was Labour a mistype? Not sure what influence Labour had to avoid the strike happening!
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  4. Labour's stance is pretty clear and simple. They don't want strikes, but since the Department for Transport isn't listening they support the rights of workers to strike If Labour were in power, they'd have found a settlement before it got to this point. straightforward, and fair to all sides!
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  5.  @hughjohns9110  Is this the level we are arguing at? Labour's statement was clear, separately I gave reasons why I believe them. Shapps, is that you?
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  6. Could it be he was lying? 🤔
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  7. The rail is still partially privatised. Somehow, despite not having the money to operate without government bailout, they still paid dividends. How does that work?
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  8. The transport dept part own the railways. They are the management and need to be at the table!
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  9.  @Bob-jp7vl  They have the power to veto deals, and have vetoed deals. They are part of the negotiations already, but in an awkward, distant way. It would be quicker and easier if they just turned up at the table!
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  10. The government own the rail network and part of most train companies. Shapps and his department are the management here!
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  11. ​ @tjenadonn6158  in fact, once you have one crisis, it tends to create more of them if you don't get on top of it!
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  12.  @hughjohns9110  It's fair to say we can't know for sure, but the railways have enough money in them to pay dividends,so they aren't skint. Shapps was just looking to pick a fight
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  13.  @hughjohns9110  I didn't want to be arrogant and presume I know everything, but if you want a clear line drawn, my position is that Labour would have found a solution before it escalated to strike action. I remain open to counterarguments, but you need to do better than interpreting my openness to listen as a weakness!
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  14. ​ @realityalwaysbulliesopinio1961  Same difference? If Shapps and Co have sign-off on any terms, they need to be at the table!
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  15.  @pickledaardvark1532  Strongly disagree. Businesses are obliged to do their best by shareholders. If the options on the table are no dividends, or lose the investment completely, no dividends meets the obligation. Dividends are best effort, not a mandatory requirement
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