Dugher criticises Cameron for “ideological sell off” of East Coast ahead of privatisation tomorrow

Tomorrow, East Coast Main Line will be taken over by private companies Virgin and Stagecoach.

Ahead of this, Michael Dugher, Shadow Transport Secretary, will give a speech in Leeds in which he’ll outline how Labour would allow public sector companies to “take on lines and challenge the private sector on a genuinely level playing field.” They’d do this, he says, within the first 100 days of government.  .

Dugher is expected to say:

“The end of East Coast Trains will be a hammer blow for passengers, taxpayers and employees alike.  David Cameron’s ideological sell off has ended a public sector service, which has delivered over £1bn to the Treasury, kept fares down, had record passenger satisfaction and engaged the workforce with unparalleled success.

“It is clear that when it comes to transport, people have a straight choice – the status quo or Labour’s better plan.  Labour will start the process of legislating in the first 100 days of a new Parliament to allow a public sector operator to be able to take on lines and challenge the private sector on a genuinely level playing field.

“Labour will also hold a speedy review of rail franchising to replace it with a system fit for purpose and create a strong passenger voice within a new strategic body for running the railways.”