The condems chance to show they are serious

[RTRsBM]

Network Rail an early test for new politics and Philip Hammond
28/05/2010

The murky world of management at Network Rail is a surprise first test of our so-called “new politics”.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has been asked to investigate “dysfunctional” control of the not-for-profit public company set up by Labour to run our railways.

The call for an inquiry comes from Gerry Doherty, leader of the white-collar rail union TSSA (of which my dad was once a member), who told his delegate conference: “There is something rotten in the state of Network Rail and we want this new government to cut it out.”

Iain Coucher, the company’s chief executive, became Britain’s highest-paid public servant in 2008 in a £1.2million-a-year deal.

He drives a Lamborghini, an Aston Martin and bought a 500-acre estate in the Scottish Highlands.

TSSA estimates £15m of public cash was spent on “confidentiality agreements” – effectively, hush money – paid to staff who quit over a three-year period.

A culture of “fear and bullying” within the company was condemned in the Commons last year.

“We think it’s time to end the secrecy surrounding the chief executive and his cabal at the top of Network Rail,” said Gerry Doherty. “I have asked the new Transport Secretary for an urgent meeting to discuss the dysfunctional management at Network Rail.”

Over to you, Mr Transport Secretary. Have you the nerve to open this can of worms?

I'm sure the right wing on here will be lobbying their MPs. I await the action fron dave with bated breath