Transport secretary Louise Haigh has announced that the government is prioritizing passengers’ needs by attempting to resolve the train drivers’ pay claim without sparking strikes, unlike the previous Conservative government. Haigh stated that the government has put forward a three-year pay deal for drivers to vote on, aiming to end over two years of damaging strikes that have cost the taxpayer over £800 million. She criticized the previous government for deliberately provoking and prolonging strikes, harming passengers and the economy in the process.
Meanwhile, the Scottish government has implemented exceptional measures to control finances, including a freeze in public sector recruitment except for essential frontline positions. Finance secretary Shona Robison emphasized the need to limit spending and prioritize essential roles amid the financial constraints imposed by the UK government’s failure to fully fund NHS worker and council staff pay rises.
Additionally, Labour’s education minister Jacqui Smith affirmed support for free speech on university campuses but expressed concerns about potential unintended consequences of legislation proposed by the previous Tory administration. Smith emphasized the importance of safeguarding free speech while considering alternative approaches to address the issue.
In a separate development, thousands of fare evasion prosecutions brought by train companies have been declared void by a judge, raising questions about the legality of using the single justice procedure for such cases. The ruling could impact numerous passengers who were prosecuted for fare evasion offenses, highlighting the need for appropriate legal procedures in the prosecution of railway offenses.
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