This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36960899
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Southern rail: Jeremy Corbyn calls on government to renationalise | Southern rail: Jeremy Corbyn calls on government to renationalise |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Ministers should renationalise the Southern rail service, following weeks of disruption for passengers, Jeremy Corbyn has said. | Ministers should renationalise the Southern rail service, following weeks of disruption for passengers, Jeremy Corbyn has said. |
The Labour leader said the "misery" that those travelling to London had faced made a "very good case" for a change of ownership. | The Labour leader said the "misery" that those travelling to London had faced made a "very good case" for a change of ownership. |
Southern passengers have faced delays, cancellations and a reduced timetable amid staff shortages and strikes. | Southern passengers have faced delays, cancellations and a reduced timetable amid staff shortages and strikes. |
The operator is in a dispute with the RMT union over the role of guards. | The operator is in a dispute with the RMT union over the role of guards. |
Two days of talks aimed at averting a five-day strike by the union are due to begin later at the conciliation service Acas. | Two days of talks aimed at averting a five-day strike by the union are due to begin later at the conciliation service Acas. |
Southern has promised to run 60% of its normal timetable if the strike, due to begin on Monday, goes ahead. | Southern has promised to run 60% of its normal timetable if the strike, due to begin on Monday, goes ahead. |
The company is also facing fresh strike action after the TSSA union said it would be balloting workers in a dispute over ticket office closures. | The company is also facing fresh strike action after the TSSA union said it would be balloting workers in a dispute over ticket office closures. |
'Enormous mistake' | 'Enormous mistake' |
"I want to see Southern back in public ownership. I don't believe it's fulfilling its obligations under the franchise it was given, " Mr Corbyn said at a leadership rally in Brighton. | "I want to see Southern back in public ownership. I don't believe it's fulfilling its obligations under the franchise it was given, " Mr Corbyn said at a leadership rally in Brighton. |
He said that it was a "enormous mistake" not to take all the train operating franchises back into public ownership after the 2001 collapse of the company then running the network, Railtrack, and he re-stated his commitment to renationalise each train service as its contract expires. | He said that it was a "enormous mistake" not to take all the train operating franchises back into public ownership after the 2001 collapse of the company then running the network, Railtrack, and he re-stated his commitment to renationalise each train service as its contract expires. |
At the rally, Mr Corbyn also said the government should have intervened to prevent the financial difficulties at the retailer BHS, which went into administration in April. | At the rally, Mr Corbyn also said the government should have intervened to prevent the financial difficulties at the retailer BHS, which went into administration in April. |
Earlier, Mr Corbyn said he was disappointed at an attack on him by David Blanchflower, an economist who has resigned from the committee advising the shadow chancellor John McDonnell. | Earlier, Mr Corbyn said he was disappointed at an attack on him by David Blanchflower, an economist who has resigned from the committee advising the shadow chancellor John McDonnell. |
Mr Blanchflower said Mr Corbyn had no credible economic policy and was more interested in addressing rallies than leading the party to power. | Mr Blanchflower said Mr Corbyn had no credible economic policy and was more interested in addressing rallies than leading the party to power. |
Mr Corbyn said: "I'm disappointed because he was helping us, we were developing and are continuing to develop a very strong and very credible economic policy which is about dealing with inequality in Britain and the need for investment in Britain by the promotion of a National Investment Bank." | Mr Corbyn said: "I'm disappointed because he was helping us, we were developing and are continuing to develop a very strong and very credible economic policy which is about dealing with inequality in Britain and the need for investment in Britain by the promotion of a National Investment Bank." |
He spoke to about 500 people outside the rally, standing on top of a fire engine, before addressing 1,000 inside the event. | He spoke to about 500 people outside the rally, standing on top of a fire engine, before addressing 1,000 inside the event. |
Scores of his fans, many wearing "Jeremy for Labour" or "I love Jeremy" t-shirts, queued for hours to get a seat at the rally in the Hilton Metropole. | Scores of his fans, many wearing "Jeremy for Labour" or "I love Jeremy" t-shirts, queued for hours to get a seat at the rally in the Hilton Metropole. |
Meanwhile Mr Corbyn's challenger for the party leadership, Owen Smith, will promise the "biggest boost to living standards for a generation" with a pay rise for five million workers if he becomes the next prime minister. | Meanwhile Mr Corbyn's challenger for the party leadership, Owen Smith, will promise the "biggest boost to living standards for a generation" with a pay rise for five million workers if he becomes the next prime minister. |
In a speech in Milton Keynes later, he will commit the party to pushing the minimum wage up to £8.25 and force employers to give it to all adults on the payroll, not just those over 25. | |
Mr Smith will say he is offering a "clear plan of action" to combat the "perfect Tory storm" of falling wages, diluted workers' rights and social security cuts. | |
He will say: "I am committed to delivering a real living wage for everyone over the age of eighteen - ending the discrimination of those under 25. | |
"Increasing support for low-paid workers through our social security system - cruelly slashed by the Tories - and delivering a revolution in workers' rights to give people a strong voice at work." |