Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 09 Dec 2025 Railways Bill
"This has been a very popular debate with a lot of contributions; I congratulate all those who managed to make their points in just three minutes. I will do my best to summarise the debate, starting by noting the excellent contributions from Opposition Members.
"My right hon. Friend is right. If Members read the Bill properly, they will see that it spells the death knell for open access.
It is true that the last few years have exposed serious weaknesses in the train franchise model. The separation of track and train created perverse incentives—I …..." Jerome Mayhew - View Speech
"Let us wait to see if Labour actually nationalises it first; but the Conservatives are here to lead, not to follow.
There is plenty of evidence because we have tried the nationalisation experiment before. The railways were nationalised in 1948. [Interruption.] If Labour Members listen, they might learn something. When …..." Jerome Mayhew - View Speech
"At the last general election, the Secretary of State and all his colleagues said that they would raise taxes by £7 billion, and that their plans were fully funded and costed. What democratic mandate does he claim to have for increasing taxes by £66 billion, and debt by a further …..." Jerome Mayhew - View Speech
"It has been dragged out of the Government that there was no black hole of £20 billion to £30 billion in the run-up to the Budget. In fact, there was a surplus. That means that Treasury insiders were deliberately misleading the press, the markets and our constituents in the run-up …..." Jerome Mayhew - View Speech
"Could my right hon. Friend remind the House what happened during that period to the deficit, which was inherited at over 10%? Maybe we will just deal with that...." Jerome Mayhew - View Speech
"The latest growth figures in Scotland have been terrible—just 0.2%—and are even worse than Labour’s figures for England at 0.3%. What has been more damaging to the Scottish economy: SNP policies in Holyrood, or Labour policies here in Whitehall?..." Jerome Mayhew - View Speech
"I know that the hon. Member cannot pronounce that word. I quite understand the points that he makes—he is heartfelt in making them, and he thinks there should be Government spending on those issues. However, he was aware of every single one of those issues before the 2024 general election, …..." Jerome Mayhew - View Speech