We're all in this together!

[HawkeyeTheNoo]

Oh how I laughed!

The Daily Telegraph (Hayley Dixon) reports that Rail Minister Simon Burns shared the experience of millions of rail travellers yesterday morning, walking through cold empty streets to Chelmsford station, narrowly missing a train and then waiting 18 minutes for the next one, joining a queue to board. Rather than sit in First, Burns stood with four other passengers between two carriages for the 35-minute journey to Liverpool Street. He had previously travelled to work by chauffeured car, claiming that he had to work on confidential papers. Commuters have welcomed his change of heart.

Simon Burns, the rail minister with a chauffeur-driven car, lets the train take the strain

Sitting on a metal station bench and squinting into the inky pre-dawn sky, it seemed as if rail minister Simon Burns was thinking wistfully of the chauffeured car that once had sped him every day to work in Whitehall.

Until last week Mr Burns had avoided the indignities of travelling by the railways he is charged with running, instead taking a department car 35 miles from his home in Essex to London at a cost to the taxpayer of £80,000 a year. He had argued he needed to work on confidential Government papers in private during his commute; a claim rejected by the Cabinet Office.

But, chastened by the exposure of his unusual arrangement on the front page of a Sunday newspaper, this morning Mr Burns chose to share the commuting experience of millions of Britons by travelling by train

Leaving his end of terrace house at 5.30am without any official papers, Mr Burns walked through the freezing cold and near-deserted streets to Chelmsford station.

Despite glancing at his watch he narrowly missed the 5.40am train, which left on time, as he stopped to buy a newspaper.

 

[wintonian]

Link to the Toyrygraph for you so people don't have to overload Google.

Sitting on a metal station bench and squinting into the inky pre-dawn sky, it seemed as if rail minister Simon Burns was thinking wistfully of the chauffeured car that once had sped him every day to work in Whitehall.

</snip>

Despite glancing at his watch he narrowly missed the 5.40am train, which left on time, as he stopped to buy a newspaper.

...

Hmm, the traditionalists in the party do seem to have something against him at the moment - I'll have to think about what it might be.

Anyway do we really need a blow by blow account of someones journey to work? "05:45 season ticket refused to work barrier resulting in minister seeking assistance and having it's validity at an intermediate station questioned" - too much detail don't you think?

 

[Butts]

Oh how I laughed!

The Daily Telegraph (Hayley Dixon) reports that Rail Minister Simon Burns shared the experience of millions of rail travellers yesterday morning, walking through cold empty streets to Chelmsford station, narrowly missing a train and then waiting 18 minutes for the next one, joining a queue to board. Rather than sit in First, Burns stood with four other passengers between two carriages for the 35-minute journey to Liverpool Street. He had previously travelled to work by chauffeured car, claiming that he had to work on confidential papers. Commuters have welcomed his change of heart.

Guy wants his head examined - I'd take the car every time. We don't expect the Minister for Housing to live in a Council House (or do we :roll

 

[wintonian]

Guy wants his head examined - I'd take the car every time. We don't expect the Minister for Housing to live in a Council House (or do we :roll

Indeed, perhaps next week he'll take the helicopter and pop over to city hall for dinner with Boris, then jump in his private jet and fly off to Southampton so he can spend the afternoon discussing shipping with the MCA on-board his luxury yacht?

 

[Wyvern]

THere are certain mps you couldn't expect to travel by public transport. They'd get lynched.

 

[Geezertronic]

I have to laugh. People berate MPs for travelling by car/limo then berate MPs for travelling by Public Transport. Not that I like them but they cannot win can they...

 

[table38]

Don't ministers employ PR consultants (at vast expense to us taxpayers no doubt) precisely to prevent these sorts of public image disasters?

 

[wintonian]

Don't ministers employ PR consultants (at vast expense to us taxpayers no doubt) precisely to prevent these sorts of public image disasters?

I think you are thinking of 'political advisors' which are by nature employed by the parties.

 

[table38]

I think you are thinking of 'political advisors' which are by nature employed by the parties.

I was thinking more along the lines of "Public Relations" advice (in which I'd include "Media Awareness") rather than "Political Advice", something like this maybe

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/7164974/MPs-expenses-Ministers-claimed-thousands-for-PR-and-accountants.html

Cabinet ministers spent thousands of pounds of public money on hiring PR consultants and accountants

Anyway, if they are, I'd say they aren't getting value for (our) money!

 

[wintonian]

Where I come from it's pretty much the same thing and as I know 1 or 2 senior party people I should know!

 

[SS4]

I have to laugh. People berate MPs for travelling by car/limo then berate MPs for travelling by Public Transport. Not that I like them but they cannot win can they...

Depends on the newspaper's agenda tbh. If only we could leave our MPs to use their common sense and decide what's best but there's always someone with an axe to grind sadly

 

[Ivo]

Am I to therefore assume that this is Non-Story Pt 2?

Much more of this borderline invasion of privacy and Mr Burns may have a case for a lawsuit.

 

[Harbon 1]

I wonder if he'd have travelled to work if his journey involved a wedged pacer?

 

[Roverman]

Guy wants his head examined - I'd take the car every time. We don't expect the Minister for Housing to live in a Council House (or do we :roll

I wouldn't be surprised if he did or tried claiming expenses for one!!

 

[DarloRich]

It is a stunt - he will be back in the car come Monday

 

[HST Power]

I have to laugh. People berate MPs for travelling by car/limo then berate MPs for travelling by Public Transport. Not that I like them but they cannot win can they...

Hence, if I were him I wouldn't have bothered. If people are just going to laugh at an MP because they're trying to be one of the 'people', I'd take the luxury car any day of the year! Why go to the bother?

Having said that, reaction from commuters in the report seemed positive.

 

[Clip]

Also notice how he didnt have his red box with him on this journey. Left at home or did it get transferred by car anyway to his office?