First class chuff-chuff.
 

Having spent over twenty years commuting up and down the west coast railway line in steerage class, perfectly able to work, read, sleep, should M.P.s be given first class rail tickets?

Winsome Winterton claims first class will afford him more privacy, but since he's not in the cabinet, so unlikely to be reading classified information, surely what he's working on will just as easily be seen in first, as in standard class.

'Tory buffoon Sir Nicholas Winterton yesterday exposed the truth about David Cameron's party - they are STILL snobbish, arrogant and out of touch.'
'The MP sparked outrage when he said he shouldn't have to travel in standard class on trains because it is full of "a different kind of people".
'He said he did not want to be forced in with those who had standard class tickets, adding: "They are a totally different type of people.'
Fury at arrogant Tory Sir Nicholas Winterton's refusal to travel standard class on trains - mirror.co.uk

The odd thing is umpteem times I caught the same train back from London with Ken Hargreaves, alighted at platform 3, trundled across to platform 2, where we both caught the same Colne train, which had no differing class divisions.

The only good thing is that after the General Election the M.P. and his wife, will be paying their own rail fares, whichever class they decide to sit in.

'The couple will not run for re-election as the MPs for Macclesfield and Congleton'
'In a letter to David Cameron, the Tory leader, the couple said that they could no longer "maintain the hectic pace" of political life and wanted to step down in order to spend more time with their family.'
'Their decision comes after the Telegraph disclosed that they claimed more than £80,000 in rent for a small London flat that was owned by a trust controlled by their children.'
Sir Nicholas and Ann Winterton to stand down from parliament: MPs expenses - Telegraph

Whether you think M.P.s should, or shouldn't be allowed first class travel privileges, there's one thing he's definitely bottom of the class in, and that's knowing when to keep your gob shut, so you don't look like an out of touch, elitist, jerk.

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

that just re-enforces what i always knew about these arrogant snotty gets,n many ordinary folk are too thick to see it.:rolleyes:

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

Aah, isn't that nice. A true man of the people so long as they aren't Oiks & 'Erberts, Wayne & Waynetta's. There in all its officialdom we're different types of People. By that he must mean Honest/Upstanding/Hard working/Truthful & Genuine, unlike him & his cronies. I suppose that's why most of us wouldn't be suited to Bollictics. :o

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

I don't see a problem with M.P.'s travelling 1st Class ... think they should. They are public figures running the country for heaven's sake, and need space to work whilst moving around ... saving time. Not going to argue further about it .. that's my unyielding opinion.

All high managers in lots of companies are allowed this 'luxury'. Unfortunately, he was arrogant, and that is what has rattled people's cages, but still agree with the sentiments.

Most have travelled 1st class for years; I, myself have come across them on many occasions on the Euston/Glasgow train .. so nowt new.

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

They are going to work, why cant they pay their own travel fares just like you and I do

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

from the bit I have read, I think the guy has a bit of a valid point , but should have been more upset that full fare paying passengers are sometimes required to stand for a complete journey when all the seats are taken , how come the railways are allowed to sell more tickets than seats available . My thinking is if I'm paying full fare I should be entitled to a seat .

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

public figures running the country into the ground with dishonest expenses claims n the like, there all arrogant ******* is my unyeilding opinion. i remember one telling us to get on our bikes many years ago. nowt changes, apart from peoples memorys.:rolleyes: Bikes fer the oiks, first class fer our betters, on yer own bike.

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

I do think they should but he is a fool to say what he said

This was the wrong thing to say :D
This was the right thing to say
By saying both he let us see what he really thinks.

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

I'm sure if your company moved your job position, but you would have to travel to London every week .. besides 'maybe' the increase in your salary, you would be asking for travel expenses. :rolleyes:

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

I think the expression running the country is stretching it a bit Katex, he's a Tory Politician, & much as people might wish it (or not after that outburst), on last looking Labour where "Running the Country" allegedly.

On top of that he really doesn't need to be doing his work on the train (paid for by the Taxpayer) as he's claiming for a place down south (also at the taxpayers expense). Cakes & eating ! (plus can you put several in a Doggy bag for the brood ?)

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

Good point. I pay to get myself to work and back but when they send me somewhere else they pay from my usual place to where they send me.

I think the MP's constituancy office should be classed as normal place and they should get free travel from there to wherever they need to go on public business. For me its all about normal people being able to become MP's and just just those who can afford to travel to and from London.

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

truth be told does he think riding in first class will get him there quicker also LOL

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

He has got it right by saying those in 2nd class are different people.. almost all have paid for tickets out thier own pockets.. most in 1st class are paid by business or the tax payer.

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

Lol, exactly.

The only difference between first and standard class, besides a huge price difference, is you get a clean paper antimacassar in first class.

Oh and if you're travelling up from London, you've got further to walk to the exit, at your destination.

Which means any first class passengers are forced to wait in the cab queue, behind the hoi polloi, who they've so far tried to avoid.

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

Er have they moved to London since he took that job :confused:
I'm sure it was there when he started :rolleyes:, he applied for it knowing it was in London so he should pay his own fares :D

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

some will always make excuses fer these arrogant, thieving scum.:rolleyes:

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

'Invited to retract his description of standard-class passengers, he responded: "They very often have a different outlook, of course they do, because they are in a different area of activity. They may be travelling just because they are on holiday or they are going to London to visit somebody. MPs are going to London to work."
Tory's fury over second-class travel - UK Politics, UK - The Independent

:rofl38::rofl38::rofl38:

I bet the 'work' he's doing on the train is only Tweeting, or checking how much it costs for an hours fun with a trafficked east European hooker.

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

He really is an idiot :D

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

Nah he really is a True Tory!

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

The only difference between Winterton and Cameron, is that Winterton is on his way out, and doesn't care anymore about showing his contempt for people he thinks are beneath him.....Cameron, for a while at least still has to pretend and deceive!!!


Best Regards - Taggy

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

Got it in one Taggy.;)

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

Would agree with the general assessment of Winterton, but snobbishness and arrogance aren't just Tory traits. Plenty of Labour politicians with the same attitude...Beckett, Harman and the odious Mandelson to name but three.

Oh sorry, the last one isn't actually a politician as nobody's actually voted for him. :rolleyes:

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

Would'nt argue with that really!.....So does that make us the stupid ones by voting at all then?

Best Regards - Taggy

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

If nobody voted at all, no party could claim they had a mandate to rule.
I wish that would happen but the chances are zero.

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

I know this is purely hypothetical because "unfortunately" its not going to happen, but does a minimum percentage of the population have to vote in order to make the vote legal?..If so does anyone know what that percentage has to be!

Obviously, someone is always going to vote...the candidates themselves and their families for instance, but what if the rest of us decided to send them a true message that we dont trust or respect any of them, and didn't vote...what would happen then?

Best Regareds - Taggy

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

Very much doubtfull I would think , seems they had elections when all the able bodied men were away from home during wartime (no postal votes) ,either stationed overseas or in other parts of the country , the politicians would spin it as everyone being happy with the status quo so no need to hold future elections :rolleyes:

I've allways thought there should be a box marked "none of the above" on every ballot sheet

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

'The plan to stop MPs travelling first class, he said, “puts us below local councillors and officers of local government.'
Sir Nicholas Winterton offends the 'totally different type of people' who don't travel first class – Telegraph Blogs

I think in most people's eyes they're lower down the food chain than that.

Below traffic wardens, estate agents, and even bankers.

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

No, not really, Taggy, because in the end, you're not just voting for a party, you're voting for an individual who will represent your interests in parliament and, despite everything, there are still a few decent ones out there.

I'd no time at all for the Thatcher government, but I voted for Ken Hargreaves because I thought he was a fantastic local MP who really had his constituents' interests at heart. He certainly went the extra mile for me when I was sorting out UK residency for my missus. And, as Garinda says, he'd no airs and graces - he just travelled back from London each week on the train with the hoi polloi, with no fuss.

Similarly, I've no time for Brown and his cohorts, but if I still lived in Accy I'd vote for Graham Jones next time around. Having chatted to him, he seems a genuine sort of bloke who really cares about local issues. And, in a similar way to Ken, he's no airs and graces - just sits in the pub over pre-match drinks shooting the breeze with us "lads". ;)

Well worth considering that if you don't vote, you might end up with a Nicholas Winterton type! :eek:

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

Its all right for you lot I've actually met the odious creep, and his equally odious wife

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

agree wynonie wi both those sentiments, ken hargreaves was a top local mp in my book, n graham jones will be also.:)

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

Ken rarely used the train, he used to use the Heathrow Shuttle to Manchester:D

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

That's odd.

I caught the same Friday Euston/Preston train as him at least a dozen times, and then the Colne train back over here.

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

I don't see anything wrong with MP's and other political representatives travelling with the common people they are meant to represent.
I might just give them an insight into what it is like in the real world.

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

He very rarely went to Preston Rindi, usually Manchest Picalilly if he used the train but his prefared mode of transport was the Plane, I used to take him to the airport and pick him up again, so I think I have an idea for his transport habits whilst he was MP:rolleyes:

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

Perhaps you're driving frightened him, and he didn't always tell you he caught the train, for as I said at least a dozen times I crossed over to platform 2 at Preston for the Colne train with him.

;)

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

Did he buy you a coffee on expenses? ;)

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

I only went in carriages where you could have a fag, drinking coffee would have cut into smoking time.

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

The good old days when you could sit on the train with a fag in your mouth and no one even looked up over their broadsheet at you.

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

Dozen times in 9 years is hardly frequent user mileage Rindi:D

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

To be quite honest Neil I've never seen anybody so precise about exes as Ken was, I had to give him a detailed milage list very month:rolleyes:

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

That was my attempt at humour :D

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

Say must try harder 100 times.:D

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

No not at all, Ken was like that, when you know the Private Eye openly stated the only thing they could pin on Ken Hargreaves was that he was the oldest altar boy in town, tells you all you want to know about the man:rolleyes:

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

It Does........:eek::D

Re: First class chuff-chuff.
 

I like Ken. Like you say he is a decent chap. A true gentleman in my opinion and he would have had my vote if I was here when he was standing

I have chatted with him many times and used to see him pass my house often before he moved. I think I have only seen him once since he moved.