The Standard

There were 149 murders in London last year, the highest figure in 11 years. The Conservatives say “crime is clearly the Mayor’s biggest failing” and claim figures show that Sadiq Khan, the police and the crime commissioner for London have failed to give the Met the support it needs.

Greg Hands – former Chief Secretary to the Treasury and current MP for Chelsea and Fulham - has recently been appointed chairman of Shaun Bailey’s mayoral campaign and today pledged a New York-style crackdown on crime in a bid to regain the London mayoralty. The Evening Standard’s City Hall editor Ross Lydall joins The Leader podcast to explain why Shaun Bailey and his team believe solving crime is a winner for them. 

Museum of London to celebrate Dub Reggae:

The Museum of London is celebrating Dub Reggae music and its culture in the capital, from its roots in Jamaican reggae to how it has shaped communities and culture over the last 50 years. 

Highlights will include a speaker stack from one of London’s leading reggae sound systems, a working custom-built record shop and images, memories and voices from the world of Dub Reggae music and culture both past and present.

Terry Dhaliwal Davies is running the custom-built record shop at the exhibition and speaks to The Leader podcast.

Dub London opens 8 May 2020 and will be free to view. Further details and information can be found here: https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/museum-london/whats-on/exhibitions/dub-london

TRANSCRIPT:

David Marsland  

The Leader brings you the best of the Evening Standard interview's, news and analysis every day at 4pm. Subscribe to make sure you don't miss an episode. Now, from the Evening Standard in London, this is The Leader.

Hi, I'm David Marsland. The chairman of Tory mayor candidate Shaun Bailey's campaign has written for the Standard about London's crime problem.

Greg Hands  

Crime is clearly the mayor's biggest failing and that is the biggest area of public concern. 

David Marsland  

Greg Hands has also spoken to our City Hall editor Ross Lydall. How will the Conservatives overcome Sadiq Khan's big lead heading into the election?

And...

Terry Dhaliwal Davies  

Music that they have probably heard but not probably discovered, where it's come from, where it originated from and the influence it has on Londoners

David Marsland  

The Museum of London's opening its own record store to celebrate the city's links with dub reggae.

Taken from the Evening Standard editorial column This is The Leader, for the whole thing pick up the newspaper or head to standard.co.uk/comment. In a moment: the Conservatives are attacking Sadiq Khan's record on crime as the London mayoral election approaches.

David Masland

Greg Hands - the former government minister - has been appointed as Tory mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey's campaign chairman, and he's written in the Standard about what he sees as the city's need for the mayor to relentlessly bear down on crime, just like Rudy Giuliani did with the zero tolerance approach that cleaned up New York in the 90s. Our editorial column said It's gonna be a hot issue in may's election.

ES Comment  

Past contests have focused on...

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Boris Johnson is calling for the nuclear pact with Iran to be replaced with a new “Trump deal”. In an interview with the BBC, he says it’s time to “dial down” tension in the Middle East, after the US assassination of Iranian general Quasem Soleimani. The Evening Standard’s deputy political editor Nicholas Cecil’s covering the story and joins The Leader podcast.

Harry and Meghan’s possible future home:

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are borrowing a $14 million mansion on Vancouver Island while their future is finalised. ES Magazine Editor-in-Chief Laura Weir wrote a piece in the Evening Standard today revealing why the destination is so desirable, and joins the podcast to discuss why the it could be the perfect place for the Sussexes to make a new life.

BTS x Serpentine collaboration:

Korean pop group BTS – the biggest boyband in the world – are releasing an art exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery in London, the Evening Standard’s Arts Correspondent Robert Dex joins The Leader podcast to explain the motive behind the unusual move.

TRANSCRIPT:

David Marsland  

From the Evening Standard in London, this is The Leader

Hi I'm David Marsland, Boris Johnson's told America and Iran to dial it down and make a deal

Nicholas Cecil  

Mr. Johnson did praise Mr Trump as a great deal maker,

David Marsland  

Our deputy political editor Nicholas Cecile and the Prime Minister surprise intervention into US politics, also:

Laura Weir  

The ones I saw were pretty massive, you know, they're these amazing beautiful wooden structures often like mansions with, you know, various entrances for boats to more and platforms for people to dive off and BBQ gardens and terraces. 

David Marsland  

We speak to ES magazine editor in chief Laura Weir about her time in the same area Harry and Megan are borrowing a $14 million mansion while their future is finalized. And:

Robert Dex  

It's a very unusual move and you can see why the serpentine said yes though.

David Marsland  

South Korea's BTS are the biggest boy band in the world, why are they collaborating with London's Serpentine on a massive art project? The Standard's Robert tax explains.

Taken from the Evening Standard editorial column, this is The Leader. For the whole thing pick up the newspaper or head to standard.co.uk/comment. In a moment Nicholas Cecil on Boris Johnson's appeal to the US and Iran.

David Marsland

Boris Johnson's calling for the nuclear pact with Iran to be replaced with a new Trump deal. In an interview with the BBC he says it's time to dial down tension in the Middle East after the US assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. Our deputy political editor Nicholas Cecil is covering the story. Nicholas, this seems like quite a surprising intervention.

Nicholas...

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Rory Stewart writes in today’s Evening Standard that he ‘guarantees’ to reduce knife crime deaths in London if elected mayor – and has volunteered to resign if he fails. The Leader podcast speaks exclusively with the London Mayoral candidate to grill him on his claims. 

The Sandringham Summit:

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle faced a crunch summit today with the Queen, the Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge Prince William and other senior royals. The subject: Harry’s future in the royal family following his and Meghan’s shock ‘resignation’ last week, and who will pay for it.

An exclusive report in the Evening Standard reveals that Justin Trudeau has privately assured the Queen that Canadian taxpayers will foot the bill for the Duke and Duchess’s security while in the country. The author of that report, Royal Editor Robert Jobson, joins The Leader podcast to discuss Harry and Meghan’s future, and how Trudeau’s promise will go down in Canada.

Flybe collapse:

Europe’s largest regional carrier Flybe is reportedly on the brink of collapse, leaving around 2,000 jobs at risk. Travel journalist Simon Calder joins The Leader podcast to discuss what this means for passengers.

TRANSCRIPT:

David Marsland  

Welcome to The Leader the Evening Standards daily news, analysis and commentary podcast. It's released at 4pm every day, make sure you get it on time by subscribing through your preferred podcast provider. Now from the Evening Standard in London, this is The Leader.

Hi, I'm David Marsland, Rory Stewart's spoken to the Leader about his ambitions to be London mayor and lay down a challenge to Boris Johnson. 

Rory Stewart  

I can criticize Labour, I can criticize Conservatives. The only thing that I care about is sorting out London. So I can say to Boris Johnson deliver those 6,600 police officers. You said you're going to do it. We want them now. 

David Marsland  

He speaks about his commitment to bring down knife crime in the city. And will he really resign if he can't. Also...

Robert Jobson  

The Queen is the queen of Canada and this is her grandson, a of the relm, the Prime Minister's said that he will make sure that he's safe.

David Marsland  

Royal editor Robert Johnson as Harry is summoned to meet the Queen over he and Megan's resignation from the family and our exclusive report on Canada offering to pay for the rebel couple security and...

Simon Calder  

it's been going through a pretty rough time in terms of the slump in Sterling after the Brexit vote which means that their costs which are in US dollars have increased 

David Marsland  

Travel journalist Simon...

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International pressure is bearing down on Iran, who are accused of shooting down the Boeing 737 Ukrainian Airlines plane that crashed minutes after take-off from Imam Kohmeini airport in Tehran. Several of the Western nations’ intelligence services believe that Iran may have accidently shot the plane down. Iran has invited manufacture Boeing to investigate the crash of the Ukrainian Airlines plane but still reject the claims and are refusing to answer questions.

What is the truth? The Evening Standard’s Deputy Political Editor Nicholas Cecil joins The Leader podcast from parliament.

Meghan jets off to Toronto:

Harry and Meghan ‘quit’ the Royal family in a bombshell announcement this week, and the Duchess of Sussex has already left for Canada to be with their son Archie. The front page of the Evening Standard today says they see themselves as “disrupters”. The Evening Standard’s Jonathan Prynn who has been reporting on the Royals speaks to The Leader podcast about Harry and Meghan’s emerging future plans. 

TRANSCRIPT:

David Marsland  

Released at 4pm every weekday The Leader brings you the best of the Evening Standard's news commentary and analysis. Subscribe to make sure you don't miss an episode from the Evening Standard in London.... This, is The Leader

Hi, I'm David Marsland. International pressure is bearing down on Iran accused of shooting down a passenger plane with 176 lives lost.

Nicholas Cecil  

There already appears to be signs of a possible cover up with debris from the plane having already been bulldozed away from the crash site.

David Marsland  

Our deputy political editor Nicholas Cecil on the questions Tehran refuses to answer

Also.

Jonathan Prynn  

 the Sussexes see themselves as young, energetic challengers

David Marsland  

Jonathan Prynn speaks to The Leader as details begin to emerge of Harry and Megan's future plans. They want to be disruptors.

Taken from the Evening Standard editorial column this is The Leader, for the whole thing pick up the newspaper or head to standard.co.uk/comment, in a moment: why Iran must tell the truth about the plane crash thatlooks like a tragic mistake.

Around 1030 at night on Wednesday and explosion it was heard over to run. Out of breath rescuers race to the site where the passenger plane had come down, but the only found flames, none of the 176 on board survived.

Justin Trudeau  

We have intelligencee from multiple sources, including our allies and our own intelligence, the evidence indicates that the plane was shot down by an Iranian surface to air missile.

David Marsland  

Canadian president Justin Trudeau addressing a country that lost 63 of its citizens lay the blame at around that night at attack to us basis in Iraq.

Donald...

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex sent shockwaves around the world when they announced their desire to step back from ‘senior’ roles in the royal family. It has since emerged that Prince Harry defied both the Queen and Prince Charles in releasing the statement when he did. The move is dramatic, unprecedented, and controversially-timed with the Duchess of Cambridge’s birthday. Was it the right thing to do? The Evening Standard’s royal editor, Robert Jobson joins The Leader podcast to discuss the on the timeline that led to an historic announcement – and the earthquake it’s sent through Buckingham Palace

Re-launching a new Royal brand:

There has been much media speculation about the Duchess of Sussex’s role in the couple’s decision. Evening Standard columnist Anne McElvoy met Meghan Markle recently, and joins The Leader podcast with her impressions – was she a rebel desperate to escape ‘the firm’?

Royals in America:

Harry and Meghan have said they plan to balance their time between the UK and North America. Much has been made of a possible move to Canada, perhaps Toronto. However the Evening Standard’s US correspondent David Gardner says it seems the royal couple have another major coastal city in mind – and it’s even further away. Listen to the podcast to find out where it is, and how George Clooney and Oprah Winfrey might have had a hand in the Sussex’s decision.

Subscribe to find us every week day from 4pm.

TRANSCRIPT:

David Marsland  

Thanks for listening to The Leader and before we start, thanks to the Publisher Podcast Awards who've just shortlisted us in their best news and current affairs category, they're following the leader and you can too by subscribing through your podcast provider. Now, from the Evening Standard in London, this is The Leader.

Hi, I'm David Marsland. This is the inside story of how Harry defied the Queen to say he and Meghan acquitting the Royal family.

Robert Jobson  

What was clear, very clear is that she told Harry that he did not want him going public about any of these possible future plans until they've been fully discussed. Well, he did

David Marsland  

Our Royal editor Robert Johnson on the timeline that led to an historic announcement and the earthquake it sent through Buckingham Palace. Also,

Anne McElvoy  

The presence of Meghan Markel, the Duchess of Sussex in the equation is clearly a catalyst for something that's been very dramatic. But I don't think it's fair to say he's been led by his wife,

David Marsland  

Standard columnist and senior editor of The Economist Anne McElvoy speaks to The Leader about her meeting with Meghan last year. Were there any signs of what was to come? And...

David Gardner  

Meghan has been discussing the move with her celebrity friends. People like George Clooney, Oprah Winfrey, they've been very critical about the kind of treatment to that Meghan and Harry have had at the hands of the British media

David Marsland  

From LA or US correspondent David Gardner and how the couple appear to be planning to build a base and perhaps a...

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Iran has launched rocket attacks on two Iraqi bases housing US troops. The missile strikes came in retaliation to the US drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. Iran’s supreme leader has said the missile attack was “not enough”. As tensions continue to rise between the two nations, The Leader podcast speaks to the Evening Standard’s Defence editor Robert Fox.

£1 million grant to cut school exclusions: 

To coincide with an in-depth investigation into secondary school exclusions, looking into the best way to improve grades and help curve sustained bad behaviour, the Evening Standard are launching a £1 million campaign to radically cut exclusions. Eliza Reberio founded the Lives not Knives campaign aimed at tackling youth crime and gang culture. Eliza was sent to a Pupil Refferal Unit when she was younger and tells The Leader podcast why teens are most likely behaving badly in school and why they need better support.

Subscribe to find us from 4pm every week day.

TRANSCRIPT:

David Marsland  

Welcome to The Leader of the Evening Standard's daily news commentary and analysis podcast. We're here at 4pm, make sure you never miss an episode by subscribing. now, from the Evening Standard in London. This is The Leader.

Hi, I'm David Marsland. Iran battered two US military bases in Iraq with at least 15 ballistic missiles, is war next?

Robert Fox  

What the Iranians are fervently hoping for is a pause because the real unknown for them is Trump and Trumps total unpredictability

David Marsland  

Our deffence editor Robert Fox as the Middle East and the world is waiting for the US to respond. Also,

Eliza Reberio  

if this happened when they were eight, nine and 10, why are we then waiting for when they're 14/15 to be excluded from school for us to support them?

David Marsland  

We talked to a young woman whose life was nearly ruined after being kicked out of school. As the Evening Standard launches a million pound campaign to cut exclusions.

Taken from the Evening Standard editorial column This is The Leader, for the whole thing pick up the newspaper or head to standard.co.uk/comment. In a moment defence editor Robert Fox on the crisis in Iran...

For half an hour from around 1030 at night Iran pounded two US bases in Iraq with ballistic missiles. Revenge said the country state TV for the White House ordered killing of General Qassem Soleimani. In Tehan crowds chanting God is great and death to America. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei suggested Iran was just getting started. [Clip], David: Last night we slapped them, he said, and added these military actions are not enough for revenge.

Boris Johnson  

Our most reasonable people would accept that the United States has a right to protect its bases and its personnel. 

In the House of Commons Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave her support to the US, but called for de escalation in the Middle East. And for all the Ayatollah's tough words, there are some who believe a targeted strike that appears to have killed new...

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A British teenager has been sentenced to a four month suspended jail sentence accused of lying about being gang-raped in Cyprus. Judge Michalis Papathanasiou told her he was giving her a "second chance". The teenager has maintained that she was raped and said she was forced to change her account under pressure from Cypriot police.​ The Leader podcast spoke to courts correspondent Tristan Kirk on what the 19 year old’s family will do now once they’re home.

Labour leadership

Shadow business secretary, Rebecca Long-Bailey, has announced her position in the Labour leadership race and has launched a thinly-veiled attack on Sir Keir Starmer over lack of confidence in regards to Brexit. The candidates join Clive Lewis, Lisa Nandy, Jess Phillips and Emily Thornberry in the battle to lead the party. Political correspondent Sophia Sleigh joins us from the Standard’s Parliament office. 

Bafta nominations

The Bafta nominations have been announced and for the seventh year in a row there are no women on the Best Director list. The Evening Standard’s film critic Charlotte O’Sullivan joins The Leader podcast to say BAFTA can’t get away with this.

We're here each week day at 4pm - make sure you never miss an episode by subscribing.

TRANSCRIPT:

David Marsland  

Welcome to The Leader, the Evening Standard's, daily news commentary and analysis podcast. We're here at 4pm make sure you never miss an episode by subscribing. Now, from the Evening Standard in London, this is The Leader

Hi, I'm David Marsland, a British teenager convicted of lying about being gang raped in Cyprus avoids jail, and the campaign continues to clear her name

Tristan Kirk  

but her legal team made it very clear. She's going to continue maintaining our innocence and take the case to appeal 

David Marsland  

Our courts correspondent Tristan Kirk and what the 19 year olds family will do now their daughter is coming home. Also,

Sophia Sleigh  

she was very much sort of nurtured in her career by shadow chancellor John McDonnell. She said you were likely to see me on the picket line as you are in the dispatch box.

David Marsland  

political correspondent Sofia slay on the Labour Party leadership is Rebecca long Bailey enters the run. And

Charlotte O'Sullivan  

the Golden Globes awkwafina one so the farewell other bodies are starting to get with the times and it's basta he's looking a little bit out of date

David Marsland  

Evening Standard film criticCharlotte O'Sullivan says BAFTA can't get away with having no woman on the Best Director nomination list for seven years.

Taken from the Evening Standard's editorial column this is The Leader. For the whole thing pick up the newspaper or head to standard.co.uk/ comment; in a moment what next for the Brit teenager who denies lying about being gang raped in Cyprus.

Protestors chanted and held we believe you...

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As thousands gathered in Iran for the funeral of General Qasem Soleimani, The Leader podcast speaks to the former chair of the UK’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Tom Tugenhadt, and ask if there’s a way out of the crisis without conflict.

UK drug crime and knife violence:

Over last six months, The Evening Standard has been examining the damage caused by permanently excluding pupils from school. Our reporting shows a 70 percent surge in the numbers over the last 8 years, and reveals how that figure is connected to young boys ending up in prison, and knife crime increases in London. The Evening Standard’s Investigations Editor, David Cohen, joins The Leader podcast to discuss his findings.

Golden Globes:

Ricky Gervais shocked Hollywood again with his Golden Globe gags, but the Evening Standard’s Phoebe Luckhurst tells the Leader podcast it was the UK’s acting talent that really stole the show.

TRANSCRIPT:

David Marsland  

Thanks for listening to The Leader of the Evening Standard's daily news podcast bringing you the best of our analysis and commentary. Please like, subscribe, share and comment, wherever you get your podcast from. From the Evening Standard in London. This is The Leader.

Hi, I'm David Marsland. Huge crowds have filled the streets of Tahran as Iran mourns the death of general Qasem Soleimani and Donald Trump is doubling down on his threats. Is there a way out of this crisis without conflict?

Tom Tugenhadt  

This can either get much worse which nobody wants or this can be a pivot point. This can be a moment when the relationship can change.

David Marsland  

The former chair of the UK is Foreign Affairs Committee, Tom Tugenhadt has written for the Standard and speaks to The Leader about the options for the Middle East, also

David Cohen  

12 year olds, who I mean that's an extraordinary young age to be sent to a school where basically you're like in a day release prison

David Marsland  

Our investigations editor David Cohen on his special report showing how England's system for dealing with disruptive school pupils is pushing many into crime. And

Phoebe Luckhurst  

He had a had a pot shot at quite a few people in that kind of opening seven minutes, many of whom were sat in in the audience grimacing.

David Marsland  

Rivky Gervais shocked Hollywood with his golden globes gags but our deputy features editor Phoebe Luckhurst says it was the UK acting talent that really stole the show..

Taken from the Evening Standard editorial column this is The Leader for the whole thing pick up the newspaper or head to standard.co.uk/comment in a moment when next for the Middle East?

With thousands listening in the streets of Tehran and millions said to be watching around Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini wept over the coffin of General Qasem Soleimani .

He led the prayers for the man around considers a hero for the US denounced as a terrorist and killed in a targeted strike in Baghdad. The move is threatening to destabilize the Middle East. But writing in the Standard today, the former chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Tom Tugenhadt, says ridding the world of a source of violence could mark a turning point Mr Tugenhadt joins me now, and is...

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Iran have vowed to respond with ‘harsh revenge’ after United States forces killed Iran’s most powerful military leader, General Qasem Soleimani, in the early hours of Friday morning. Leaders around the world have weighed in on the attack, with Joe Biden comparing President Donald Trump’s attack order to ‘dynamite in a tinder box’. UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab urged “all sides to de-escalate”. Donald Trump himself has responded with a mocking tweet aimed at Iran’s leadership. As the world waits to see how Iran will respond, The Leader podcast speaks to the Evening Standard’s US Correspondent David Gardner to ask: does Donald Trump have a plan?

The Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick has written in today’s Evening Standard announcing that more police will be dispatched to patrol London’s vibrant crime spots. Home Affairs editor Martin Bentham joins the Leader podcast to discuss Dame Cressida’s comments.

Popular fashion store Next has given the high street some hope for fashion sales, Business Reporter Joanna Bourke explains why.

TRANSCRIPT:

David Marsland  

The Leader is delivered to your podcast provider at 4pm every weekday, bringing you the best news analysis and commentary from one of the country's most trusted newsrooms, subscribe to make sure you get it on time. Now, from the Evening Standard in London, this is The Leader.

Hi, I'm David Marsland. The US has killed one of Iran's top generals.

David Gardner  

Now what there's a suggestion that there may be cyber attacks, there may be terror attacks. There is also a suggestion that allies of the United States could be in some danger.

David Marsland  

We speak to our US correspondent David Gardner as the world waits to see how Iran responds and whether President Trump has a plan.

Also 

Martin Bentham  

very young people who've hardly started their lives have there lives brought to an end.

David Marsland  

The Standard's Home Affairs editor Martin Bentham as met police commissioner Cressida dick writes for the paper to announce more police will patrol London's violent crime hotspots, and...

Joanna Bourke

so they posted a 5.2% full price sales rise

David Marsland

Business reporter Joanna Burke on how next is giving hope to the high street the day before London men's fashion week begins.

David Marsland  

Taken from the evening standards editorial column This is The Leader. For the whole thing pick up the newspaper had to standard.co.uk/comment. In a moment Iran says it will take crushing revenge over the death of a top General, does Donald Trump have a next move? 

Donald Trump  

Our president will start a war with Iran because he has absolutely no ability to negotiate. He's weak and he's ineffective. So the only way he figures that he's going to get reelected and assures you sitting there is to start a war with Iran. 

David Marsland  

Donald Trump in 2011, claiming...

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It’s a bleak start to the year for London’s commuters travelling in on South Western Rail networks as more delays are to continue due to lack of staff. The guards who took part in the 27-day strike have been off duty for so long that they need to retrain for safety requirements. This put hundreds of trains out of action on Thursday and delays will continue into Friday. The Evening Standard’s City Hall editor Ross Lydall joins The Leader podcast to explain what we could expect over the next few months - as well as some good news for companions of disabled passengers from London's mayor Sadiq Khan.

Also, London's most well-known burlesque nightclub and gig venue Madame JoJo's which shut down in 2014 is going to reopen, the Standard's Arts Correspondent Rob Dex joins the Leader podcast.

TRANSCRIPT:

David Marsland  

Happy New Year and thanks for coming back to The Leader. We have a lot planned for the next few weeks, so make sure you subscribe through your favorite podcast provider and don't miss out. Now for the first time in 2020, from the Evening Standard in London, this is The Leader...

Hi, I'm David Marsland. The RMT South Western Railway strike is over, but some of the guards have been off for so long they need retrained,

Ross Lydall  

You wouldn't be happy to be coming back to work on a sort of chilly January first day back in the office. You're paying more for your travel and then you're standing on the platform waiting for the train to come and it doesn't come and you just think they just can't get any more ludicrous. 

David Marsland  

Our City Hall editor Ross Lydall on a miserable return to work for thousands and the fares have gone up too. Also, 

Robert Dex  

it'll be a bit of living history in a part of London that quite frankly is a bit careless with its history and is forever knocking things down and starting again

David Marsland  

Arts Correspondent Robert Dex on the resurrection of Madame JoJo's. We welcome the return of a Soho icon.

Taken from the Evening Standard editorial column This is The Leader for the whole thing pick up the newspaper or head to standard.co.uk/comment. In a moment the train debacle that's too serious to be a farce.

The day had barely began at London Bridge station when the delay announcement started, a pretty miserable return to work for train commuters only made worse by this morning's average fare rise of 2.7%. That's a justified hike according to Robert Nesbitt from the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train companies 

Robert Nesbitt  

We're an industry like any other that's facing rising costs the staff bill, for example, but also fuel costs as well. What we want to do is we want to cover the day to day running costs of the railway to free up billions of pounds of investment for the public and private sector. But this is an average figure. It's still just below the rate of inflation and that's for the third year running.

David Marsland  

But for some passengers using Southwestern Railways, the increased prices were compounded by cancellations, the aftershock of a 27 day strike by the RMT union, and our editorial column can't quite believe it.

ES Comment  

The reason for the latest cancellations is the guards who inflicted the strike have been off duty for so long they need to be retrained to ensure that they are properly refreshed in terms of all necessary safety activities, the same applies to some drivers. the situation would be farcical if it were not so serious. It is yet another reminder of the damage caused by the union's...

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