A Conservative Party spokesperson accused Sir Keir of overseeing a “Unions First” approach.
Starmer has been accused of trying to please his union ‘paymasters’ (Image: Getty)
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is facing accusations of pushing through his ren-ationalisation of the railways policy to please the unions.
Ministers have bypassed the usual process of putting new laws through the Commons.
Instead of being scrutinised by a Public Bill Committee, the Government has opted for a Committee of the Whole House.
This will enable the Government to pass the new laws weeks or even months faster than usual.
Governments can usually only use fast-track measures in emergency scenarios.
Train drivers also secured a pay rise after Labour agreed to a deal (Image: Getty)
Tory transport spokesperson Helen Whateley told the Daily Mail: “Keir Starmer is no doubt keen to shift the spotlight off Labour’s cronyism and cruelty to pensioners.
“He is fast-tracking rail nationalisation plans to please his paymasters.
“Just weeks after promising to put country before party, Keir appears to have a new slogan: Unions First.”
This comes after the new Labour government reached a pay deal with Aslef, the union that represents train drivers.
The deal sees drivers secure a rise of 5 percent for 2022-23, 4.75 percent for 2023-24 and 4.5 percent for 2024-25 – all backdated and pensionable.
Mick Whelan, Aslef’s general secretary, said: “The offer is a good offer – a fair offer – and it is what we have always asked for, a clean offer, without a land grab for our terms and conditions that the companies and previous government tried to take in April last year.”
Talks between Aslef and the previous Conservative government had stalled after an April 2023 offer was rejected.
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said: “When I took this job, I said I wanted to move fast and fix things – starting by bringing an end to rail strikes.
“The Conservatives were happy to see the taxpayer pay the price as strikes dragged on and on, and passengers suffered. This Labour government is doing the right thing and putting passengers first.
“If accepted, this offer would finally bring an end to this long-running dispute, and allow us to move forward by driving up performance for passengers with the biggest overhaul to our railways in a generation.”
