With the great return to offices stalling, rail unions have taken it upon themselves to threaten rolling strikes into Christmas. Ahead of the Conservative Party Conference, Oliver Dowden has told the Evening Standard that unions should not take “Londoners and commuters for fools” as they could be pushed into “permanently adapting away from using the railways on a routine basis”.
The Deputy Prime Minister is right. The reality is that this is growing into an existential crisis for the rail sector. If workers cannot reliably catch a train, many will give up on the daily commute. This will be damaging not only to the unions themselves, but to the capital and the businesses reliant on a bustling city.
That many visitors to the rally in Manchester — including the nation’s political journalists — will be forced to take the bus is unlikely to lift the mood. The event is set to be a crunch moment for Rishi Sunak, who must hope that he can begin to build momentum towards the next election.
The Prime Minister has made a concerted effort in recent weeks to draw a distinction between his party and Labour, most notably on rowing back from some climate actions. Dividing lines are often a useful tool, but they must be chosen wisely, and on issues more likely to divide the Opposition than the Government.
It remains to be seen whether the recent media blitz from asylum to electric vehicles will win over public opinion and begin to erode what remains a substantial polling lead for Keir Starmer and Labour. At the same time, Sunak must ensure his party speaks with one voice and keep public spats to a minimum.
Whether he gets to Manchester by helicopter or bike, the Prime Minister must demonstrate to his party and the country that he has a plan for the next year, and a compelling argument for a fifth consecutive Conservative administration. That is no mean feat.
A league of their own
The Women’s Super League is back, with some of the best players in the world and ever-growing crowds. The opening weekend grants no option for a slow start, with Chelsea commencing their title defence against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge while Arsenal host Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.
With two major finals in as many years, including that famous win over Germany at Wembley, England fans have been spoiled by success in recent times. Now, domestic rivalries return, and the battle to deny Chelsea a fifth successive title begins.
