Wanderlust

Tag: rail fares

  • Corbyn floats plan for providence tax on tech companies to fund journalism

    Jeremy Corbyn being interviewed by the BBC's Andrew Marr Image caption The Labour chief says the licence fee could be set independently

    A windfall tax could be levied on tech giants corresponding to Google, Amazon and Fb to pay for public hobby journalism, Jeremy Corbyn is to say.

    The Labour chief will call for radical reform of the media panorama in a speech on the Edinburgh TELEVISION Festival.

    he’ll say virtual “monopolies” which “extract large wealth” may just pay for non-benefit, investigative reporting.

    Other concepts include a digital licence rate, elections to the BBC board and an end to ministers vetoing FOI requests.

    Low levels of trust within the media can’t be unnoticed, Mr Corbyn will say on Thursday within the Selection MacTaggart lecture – a speech which will be watched intently as a information to how a future Labour government would possibly way media policy.

    Symbol copyright PA

    Mr Corbyn has long supported a review of media possession laws amid longstanding issues inside the celebration in regards to the power of businesses comparable to Rupert Murdoch’s Information Corp and 21st Century Fox.

    Labour’s 2017 manifesto promised to give regulator Ofcom extra powers to give protection to media plurality and to reconsider laws on who is fit and correct to run TELEVISION and radio stations.

    Excerpts of the speech launched by the Labour’s chief’s team don’t refer particularly to possession laws or to the current takeover battle for Sky or the longer term of Sky Information – set to modify possession as part of the deal.

    Concepts for the BBC

    There are, on the other hand, a chain of proposals for the governance of the BBC, designed to allow it to compete more effectively in the virtual age, but additionally to “democratise” it and make it extra accountable.

    Duty for finding out the licence rate may well be taken clear of ministers and passed to an impartial frame.

    he’s going to also make the case for a virtual most sensible-up to the licence charge, to be paid for by means of a levy on internet provider suppliers, at the same time as BBC body of workers and licence-rate payers may get to elect members of editorial and nearby boards – which he says would scale back political influence and empower licence-price payers.

    The Conservatives stated Labour’s proposals had been economically illiterate and may hurt customers.

    “Tech companies might just submit their costs and cross this Internet Tax instantly onto households and businesses across the country – including more power to weekly bills,” mentioned its deputy chair James Cleverly.

  • Rail fares rises: Grayling pleads with unions and teach companies

    passengers board train Image copyright Getty Pictures

    The rail industry should amendment the way it calculates fare rises and body of workers wages to cut costs for passengers, Delivery Secretary Chris Grayling has stated.

    He has requested educate operators and unions to make use of a distinct, decrease, inflation degree to set pay and fare increases.

    The RMT union mentioned it antagonistic Mr Grayling’s name – made hours ahead of January’s rail fare upward push is announced.

    The shadow transport secretary said Mr Grayling “had the ability to enforce this, he is simply opting for to not.”

    “the reality is that our fragmented, privatised railway drives up prices and leaves passengers paying extra for less,” Andy McDonald brought.

    Image copyright Susan Ramsdale Image caption Rail passengers have faced ongoing delays this yr

    “I make stronger paying rail body of workers first rate wages for the hard work they do, but I additionally now consider it is important that pay agreements also use CPI and not RPI in long run,” he said.

    Mr Grayling recommended the rail companies’ club frame the Rail Supply Team to assist the government move against the use of CPI for future pay deals.

    He stated the transfer may lend a hand the business to “stay costs down”.

    The letter was once sent to all the rail unions, with a separate letter despatched to Paul Plummer, the manager government of the Rail Delivery Team, soliciting for his enhance.

    The TUC union in advance calculated that rail fares had risen over two times as speedy as wages over the past decade.

    Wednesday’s fare hike comes after a summer time of chaos for many teach customers, after a rail timetable overhaul saw scores of cancellations and delays.