19.06.18
Labour to launch no confidence challenge against Grayling
The transport secretary is under fire in parliament today as Labour looks to draft a motion of no confidence in the Commons.
The party is using one of its opposition days — one of the 20 days in a parliamentary year where the opposing party can set the agenda and topic of discussion for the day — to raise a motion of no confidence against Chris Grayling for his handling of the ongoing crisis of the nation’s rail providers.
A confidence motion — which Labour says “seeks to test whether the House of Commons supports a government minister in the carrying out of their responsibilities” — will need to be defeated by Parliament in a vote to ensure the chosen individual can remain in post.
Amongst the accusations, Labour believes that Grayling has “failed to fulfil his basic duty to manage our railways.” In the past month, the UK’s rail service has been marred by cancellations, delays, and resignations of top TOC bosses following the failed bedding in of new timetables on 20 May.
Labour shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald said: “The crisis facing our railways is a national scandal, and the person ultimately responsible must be held to account. Chris Grayling has failed to fulfil his basic duty to manage our railways, and failed to take responsibility for the chaos and disruption that has affected thousands of commuters across the north of England.”
McDonald added that while officials within rail franchises have resigned, the secretary of state has “continued to pass the buck.”
“Passengers across our country have no confidence in Chris Grayling,” McDonald continued. “It’s time Parliament steps in to hold him to account, and immediately terminate the Northern and Govia Thameslink Railways franchises, to end the crisis in our railways.”
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Image credit: Stefan Rousseau