• Disrupting Power Since 2015
  • Donate
  • Login
Saturday, May 17, 2025
  • Login
  • Register
Canary
MEDIA THAT DISRUPTS
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION
SUPPORT
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
Canary
No Result
View All Result

Closing rail ticket offices is the ‘right thing for the British public’, says Sunak

Glen Black by Glen Black
11 September 2023
in Analysis, UK
Reading Time: 4 mins read
162 10
A A
1
Home UK Analysis
319
SHARES
2.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Prime minister Rishi Sunak told reporters that rail ticket office closures are the “right thing for the British public”. However, his comment contradicts the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which said it was “concerned” over the plans. It also flies in the face of the public themselves – particularly disabled people and those with other accessibility issues.

Helicopter politicking

Plans for rail companies to close rail ticket offices nationwide were first made public by the Association of British Commuters in late June. People have widely opposed them from the outset, particularly because of the impact they would have on chronically ill and disabled people.

The government then launched a public consultation that closed on 1 September. More than 680,000 people responded, although the results are not yet known. And it was in his response to this consultation that Sunak claimed closing ticket offices is the “right thing” to do.

On 10 September, the Mirror reported that Sunak told reporters he doesn’t want to “pre-empt the conclusions” of the consultation. That came in response to being asked if he’d respect the outcome if it asked for ticket offices to remain open. Despite not wanting to pre-empt the conclusions, the PM went on to say:

It’s right that our railway network is modernised and is put on a sustainable footing. That’s the right thing for the British public and British taxpayers and recognises the fact that I think only one in 10 tickets are sold currently in ticket offices.

This, of course, comes from a man who prefers to travel by helicopter and jet.

Plans pose safety issues

Sunak’s comments fly in the face of a recent report by the EHRC. Following the closure of the consultation, the government watchdog published its own response. As Disability News Service explained, the EHRC warned that the closures could breach human rights laws due to their impact on disabled and older people.

In particular, the EHRC’s response said [word doc, p7]:

We are concerned that, without greater strategic direction from the Department for Transport… there will be significant inconsistency in the provision of rail services across the 13 ToCs, particularly for disabled and older people. A lack of coordinated and consistent policy and practice has the potential to be confusing and increase the barriers to accessing rail travel for disabled and older people.

The plans put forward by train companies claimed they would redeploy ticket office staff to other parts of the station. Sunak parroted this claim to reporters. However, as the Canary previously reported, research by the ABC demonstrated back in July that this is untrue.

As a result, the EHRC’s document also highlighted the impact closures could have on other sectors of society:

Any reduction or other changes in staffing may also have an impact on passenger safety, which may have a disproportionate adverse impact on those who share certain protected characteristics, such as women, members of the LGBT community, younger or older people, as well as disabled people.

All aboard the gravy train

Even for people without disabilities, chronic illness, or other accessibility challenges, ticket office closures will come as a blow.

The plans put the jobs of thousands of office staff in danger – which is something the National Union of Rail, Transport, and Maritime Workers (RMT) is campaigning on. Meanwhile, financial journalist Paul Lewis pointed out in July that the cheapest rail tickets are often only available from in-person offices:

One in five rail tickets, including some of the cheapest, are not available from ticket machines, putting up costs and limiting choice if ticket offices are shut. pic.twitter.com/gHhh0Kuu6R

— Paul Lewis (@paullewismoney) July 30, 2023

In a sensible culture, supporting accessibility, safety, jobs, and reduced fares would be the “right thing for the British public”. However, we live in a society where the PM travels by helicopter, and the wellbeing of companies is more important than the lives of people. So make no mistake: ticket office closures are far from the “right thing” for the British public – it’s just that that doesn’t matter to Sunak.

Featured image via Number 10/Flickr

Share128Tweet80
Previous Post

As opposition to the DSEI arms fair intensifies, over 40 Israeli arms companies have set up shop

Next Post

Parliamentary report finds photo voter ID requirement is systemically flawed

Next Post
Polling station sign

Parliamentary report finds photo voter ID requirement is systemically flawed

Virunga National Park, where the DRC is opening up new oil and gas blocks.

Major insurance companies shun new oil and gas in the biodiverse Congo Basin - it could be a death knell for big oil in the DRC

Laura Kuenssberg State of Chaos

Kuenssberg's 'State of Chaos' was little more than centre-right political porn for the middle classes

People protesting against the far right near the Bibby Stockholm

From protests to judicial reviews, the Bibby Stockholm looks like it's sinking fast

The ocean. A group of small island states have taken a case to a UN ocean tribunal to address greenhouse gas emissions in the context of the UN Law of the Sea.

Small island states call out rich nations' climate responsibility in historic ocean tribunal hearing

Please login to join discussion
Disabled people set to take to parliament en masse to oppose DWP cuts
Analysis

Disabled people set to take to parliament en masse to oppose DWP cuts

by The Canary
16 May 2025
Southern Water are threatening a journalist with defamation for asking difficult questions
Analysis

Southern Water are threatening a journalist with defamation for doing their job

by HG
16 May 2025
FIFA face human rights questions over upcoming world cups in Saudi Arabia and the US
Analysis

FIFA face human rights questions over upcoming world cups in Saudi Arabia and the US

by Maryam Jameela
16 May 2025
Plaid Cymru Commons leader just hit a nerve with this biting question to Keir Starmer
Analysis

Plaid Cymru Commons leader just hit a nerve with this biting question to Keir Starmer

by James Wright
16 May 2025
DWP failures have led to hundreds of deaths - but these are just the tip of the iceberg
Analysis

DWP failures have now led to hundreds of deaths – but these are still the tip of the iceberg

by Steve Topple
16 May 2025
  • Contact
  • About & FAQ
  • Get our Daily News Email
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

The Canary
PO Box 71199
LONDON
SE20 9EX

Canary Media Ltd – registered in England. Company registration number 09788095.

For guest posting, contact [email protected]

For other enquiries, contact: [email protected]

The Canary is owned and run by independent journalists and volunteers, NOT offshore billionaires.

You can write for us, or support us by making a regular or one-off donation.

© Canary Media Ltd 2024, all rights reserved | Website by Monster | Hosted by Krystal | Privacy Settings

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion

© 2023 Canary - Worker's co-op.

Before you go, have you seen...?

Disabled people set to take to parliament en masse to oppose DWP cuts
Analysis
The Canary

Disabled people set to take to parliament en masse to oppose DWP cuts

Southern Water are threatening a journalist with defamation for asking difficult questions
Analysis
HG

Southern Water are threatening a journalist with defamation for doing their job

FIFA face human rights questions over upcoming world cups in Saudi Arabia and the US
Analysis
Maryam Jameela

FIFA face human rights questions over upcoming world cups in Saudi Arabia and the US

Plaid Cymru Commons leader just hit a nerve with this biting question to Keir Starmer
Analysis
James Wright

Plaid Cymru Commons leader just hit a nerve with this biting question to Keir Starmer

ADVERTISEMENT
Business
Nathan Spears

Smart Delivery Positions Mr Nang as a Leader in Australia’s Cream Charger Market

Lifestyle
Nathan Spears

Social Media Activism: How Grassroots Movements Are Gaining Power Online

Travel
Nathan Spears

Best Destinations In Spain For A Couples Holiday