RMT Strikes: Impact on Businesses

Debate between Baroness Blake of Leeds and Lord Mackinlay of Richborough

Tuesday 28th April 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

Part of the difficulty when we came into government in 2024 was that there was no agreement on the table around productivity between the private owners of TOCs and staff. I assure the noble Lord that work has been done in this area, as he would expect, and all TOCs have productivity ready due to government action recognising that the benefits of this will be to both staff and passengers.

[Lord Mackinlay of Richborough (Con)]

My Lords, last week I was not singing the praises of the RMT when I was walking with two prosthetic legs between here and Victoria, and I probably speak for many disabled people who rely on the Tube to get to work. But I speak in this place for the smaller businesses out in Rochester where I live—the taxis even out there recorded less work because people were not at work and were either working from home or, probably more likely in many cases, having a day off unpaid. Will the Minister from the Dispatch Box similarly condemn the actions of the RMT?

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

It is a very interesting dispute. ASLEF is on record saying that it finds the dispute bizarre because of its nature in terms of proposing a voluntary scheme that is not going to be enforced. I hope the discussions will get underneath the issues that the noble Lord mentions. Of course, our sympathies go out to people who are particularly affected, as he mentioned, by such action. That is why it is so important that we get industrial relations on the right footing in this country, and I am delighted to say that we are in the process of doing that.

Electric Vehicles: Transition

Debate between Baroness Blake of Leeds and Lord Mackinlay of Richborough

Wednesday 11th February 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

It is important to recognise that any decisions about VAT on all these measures will be a matter for the Treasury, which will, obviously, be looking at all the impacts of any policy change as we go forward.

[Lord Mackinlay of Richborough (Con)]

My Lords, I refer to my interests as the director of the Global Warming Policy Foundation. Figures show that UK car production has reduced to its lowest level since the 1950s, yet a Chinese EV manufacturer has now eclipsed every other global manufacturer of motor vehicles. Does the Minister regard that as a success?

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

The most important thing we have to do is work with the manufacturers in this country. The decision under the previous Government to change the target sent a wave of uncertainty through manufacturers. It is absolutely critical that we keep that certainty and have clarity. We are fully committed to the manufacturing industry and base in this country. Of course, we are having conversations with China, as per the Prime Minister’s recent visit, and there are so many positives to come from these conversations. We look forward to the industry moving forward to full strength.