Why Labour's Railway Bill is on the wrong track

MP WRITES CRITICAL OPINION PIECE IN THE HERALD...

- By REBECCA SMITH MP

THE Labour Government's renationalisation plans, ushered in by the Railway Bill, are being sold as a fix-all solution for Britain's railways.

However, the reality, as I warned in my maiden speech, is that our railways will creep back into the 1970s.

Over the past few weeks I have been sitting on the Railways Bill Committee, scrutinising the Labour Government's plans to bring our railways back into public ownership. Public Bill Committees are an often-overlooked pillar of Britain's democratic tradition, enabling detailed, cross-party scrutiny of legislation and helping ensure laws are strengthened before reaching the statute book. During these sessions, I have grown increasingly concerned that Labour is heading down the wrong track with its nationalisation plans, and in this piece I set out why.

Many people in the South West, living several hours from the corridors of power in Westminster, feel that our region is overlooked in favour of other parts of the country.