How can we help the chancellor implement his strategy?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From The BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

Jeremy Hunt says significant tax cuts in Budget unlikely

[snip - text on tax]

Four 'Es'

The chancellor also unveiled a plan to grow the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) economy, though it drew a mixed reaction with some business groups criticising a lack of detail.

He said the strategy would focus on four pillars, or "four Es": enterprise, education, employment and everywhere.

Enterprise. Making adjustments to timetables so that buses and trains connect and have a through ticketing system such I can get on the bus outside my home and travel to Latheronwheel all join up.

Education. Ensure that communities know where their local train stations and bus stops are, and that they know how to make best use of them - timetables, how to buy good value fares (not just the highlight Anytime Open First ones), how to board a train.   Help people learn how to plan their activities so they can make best use of public transport.  Ensure that people know just how much better public transport is for the environment, for congestion, and for their pockets, especially if they can drop from 3 cars to 2 in the household.

Employment. Staff at every station with over 3,000 journeys a year to advise on train use, help people find things road and rail side, sell tickets, serve hot drinks, make people feel safe, board if they need help, litter pick, clean loos, update signage.  "Station Ambassador"

Everywhere.  Acton to Zennor. Land's End to John O'Groats (or Berwick-upon-Tweed if this is an English Plan). Ayr to Llanfair­pwllgwyngyll­gogery­chwyrn­drobwll­llan­tysilio­gogo­goch. Shippea Hill to London (Waterloo).  Birmingham New Street to Pilning. 11 Downing Street to Ty Capel and Ty Coch (https://what3words.com////presented.method.skewed) .

[JayMac]

Conservatives? Strategy?

Surely some mistake.

[eightonedee]

....add to your "Education" section, first sentence-

"and the places served by stations in their area"

I never cease to be amazed by those who just think that trains just go to and from London, or who think trains from Reading only go to Bristol, South Wales, Devon & Cornwall.

They are usually surprised when I say I used to commute the Guidlford by train most days, that they can get directly to Gatwick, Southampton, Birmingham and Manchester by train (and hopefully I'll be able to go back to adding York and Newcastle to the list soon) from Reading without changing trains. I'd guess that there are many (a substantial majority?) of the inhabitants of the larger towns & cities (or places nearby that are on the railway so it's a short onward journey to get home) who are similarly ignorant of the list of places they can get to.

[GBM]

From The BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

Employment. Staff at every station with over 3,000 journeys a year to advise on train use, help people find things road and rail side, sell tickets, serve hot drinks, make people feel safe, board if they need help, litter pick, clean loos, update signage.  "Station Ambassador"

So, sack all station staff and all on train staff, and replace all by volunteers.
Maybe sack all rail staff and replace all by volunteers.
No more strikes.
Sorted.
A real vote winner...........

[grahame]

From The BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

Employment. Staff at every station with over 3,000 journeys a year to advise on train use, help people find things road and rail side, sell tickets, serve hot drinks, make people feel safe, board if they need help, litter pick, clean loos, update signage.  "Station Ambassador"

So, sack all station staff and all on train staff, and replace all by volunteers.
Maybe sack all rail staff and replace all by volunteers.
No more strikes.
Sorted.
A real vote winner...........

I said staff and not volunteers.   Volunteering has it place, but not for where a skilled and flexible person is needed at all times and in all weathers with 99% reliability.   Mt Hunt said "employment" not "unemployment" I believe.