District councllor Paul Millar writes for the Journal.

Exmouth Journal: Councillor Paul Millar said the situation was scandalousCouncillor Paul Millar said the situation was scandalous (Image: LDRS)

As a regular train passenger, it is easy to take for granted that our country is lucky to have the safest railways in the world. In Exmouth and East Devon, we have a large elderly population.

I have seen for many years conductors and guards keep elderly, disabled and other vulnerable passengers safe.

That is why, unlike our local MP, I fully support the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) in their right to negotiate higher wages, terms and conditions.

They don't want to strike, they are losing pay in doing so, but they face a government which does not empathise with their concerns, with MPs and Ministers isolated from the lived experience of everyday people.

Railway workers have already embraced modernisation and continue to do so.

The Prime Minister in an interview with Radio 4 referred to his work stripping the tube of its staff and taking away ticket offices. But the Underground serves mainly commuters - the railways serves a greater variety of passenger.

Mr Jupp rightly stated in his column, quoting Mrs Thatcher, there is no such thing as government money - only taxpayers money. So, then, why are we in the absurd situation of allowing private companies backed by foreign governments to run our railways reinvesting their profits back into those countries?

Ending the expensive franchising system and bringing rail back into a sensible, devolved form of public ownership - like in Labour run Wales - would allow an appropriate pay rise, perhaps not 11 per cent but certainly above two per cent. We also need to end the scandal of executive pay in our public services.

These are not train drivers striking, they are guards, cleaners - low and middle earners who keep the railways clean and safe, some of whom are forced into the indignity of using food banks.

So I for one salute Mick Lynch and all rail workers for standing up for workers across the country who are feeling the squeeze due to the Tories' decision to inflict higher taxes at a time of rising prices on these low and middle earners. It's time for the government to take serious responsibility.