Great Western Coffee Shop

All across the Great Western territory => Who's who on Western railways => Topic started by: grahame on March 01, 2019, 06:41:50



Title: Independent Group appoints Transport Spokesperson.
Post by: grahame on March 01, 2019, 06:41:50
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47410564

Independent Group Transport spokesperson is Angela Smith, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge - brief career background at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Smith_(Sheffield_MP) .  I don't see a great deal of Transport in her past, and her portfolio also covers local government and housing, and energy, environment and rural affairs.

Should the group grow significantly in numbers, I would expect the multi-disciplined portfolios to be split down as Angela seems to have an awful lot on her plate!


Title: Re: Independent Group appoints Transport Spokesperson.
Post by: trainbuff on March 01, 2019, 19:24:18
Does anyone know what any of their policies are yet? I understand they are not a Political Party at present and are a limited company registered in Panama. Apparently this means that they don't have to declare donors, which may impact their policies on the Railways. Also they have no members as such!


Title: Re: Independent Group appoints Transport Spokesperson.
Post by: ellendune on March 01, 2019, 20:49:41
I understand they are not a Political Party at present and are a limited company registered in Panama.

I am not sure you have got that right. According to Wikipedia Gemini A Ltd is registered in England and Wales. 


Title: Re: Independent Group appoints Transport Spokesperson.
Post by: trainbuff on March 02, 2019, 21:14:56
I stand corrected about the registration of the company. But being a Private company means they have no members, only donors, and do not have to declare any donation at all. Political parties have to declare donations over £5000 I understand so its not known which large donors 'may' influence policy decisions


Title: Re: Independent Group appoints Transport Spokesperson.
Post by: TonyK on March 02, 2019, 23:58:56
I was less than surprised by the formation of the non-formation, having lived through the SDP split from Labour and the subsequent merger with the Liberals. At the moment, the Independent Group is not a political party, and I can't see it ever being. There is more that divides the MPs than unites them.
So I don't see this as a new political party, but I would vote for whoever had the neck to stand on a platform of policies that I like.
It's a lousy system, but we're stuck with it.


Title: Re: Independent Group appoints Transport Spokesperson.
Post by: JayMac on March 05, 2019, 20:28:12
I was less than surprised by the formation of the non-formation, At the moment, the Independent Group is not a political party, and I can't see it ever being. There is more that divides the MPs than unites them.

The group is in talks with the Electoral Commission about becoming a fully fledged political party.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47453810



This page is printed from the "Coffee Shop" forum at http://gwr.passenger.chat which is provided by a customer of Great Western Railway. Views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that content provided contravenes our posting rules ( see http://railcustomer.info/1761 ). The forum is hosted by Well House Consultants - http://www.wellho.net