A TORY MP has said she is unsure if she voted for anti-strike legislation which was previously branded “draconian”.
It comes as rail users in England face disruption this week, as members of train drivers’ union Aslef hold an overtime ban and strikes.
During her appearance on Politics Live, MP for Romsey and Southampton North Caroline Nokes appeared to be unsure on whether or not she had voted for legislation which means minimum service levels must be applied within key sectors in the event of strike action.
"I will have voted for it, I assume"
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) January 29, 2024
Conservative MP Caroline Nokes is unsure if she voted for minimum service legislation, which she says "clearly isn't working", as #PoliticsLive discusses the impact of train strikes
https://t.co/myW0WNVGFf pic.twitter.com/sJnIbL5lB3
When it was put to Nokes that the legislation wasn’t working as people are still facing disruption, Nokes replied: “Well it certainly didn’t seem to be working very well this morning on SWR (South Western Railway) when they’re on an overtime ban and it seemed like one in three trains was running.”
Asked “what was the point” in even introducing the legislation when rail operators have seemingly not enforced the rules, Nokes said: “I’m not very clear as to why that has happened but the stark reality is that the legislation clearly isn’t working.
“It isn’t delivering what Grant Shapps [above] promised in enabling people to get to work.”
However, Nokes was then unable to fully confirm whether or not she had in fact voted for the legislation in the first place.
She said: “I will have voted for it. I assume. I’m not going to take that one to the bank.”
The MP then added that she was left “disappointed” that “the trains weren’t working” due to the strike action.
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The action does not directly impact Scotland, although there will be disruption across the network over the next few days due to planned safety works to prevent rockfalls.
This will limit train services between Edinburgh and Glasgow, Bathgate, Linlithgow, Stirling and Inverness.
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