Hoon gone

Industry devastated


BBC report here.

Night of the long spoons

According to Xbriefing, with a bowler tip to HQ Staffer, Gordon Brown will have a "Cabinet cull... by the end of the week..."

Xbriefing then names those whose time in government is at an end:

"Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon, the Home Secretary Jackie Smith, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling, and the Communities Secretary Hazel Blears."

Two down (by their own hands) and two to go.

So if Hoon of that Ilk goes who will replace him?

Time for another exciting Eye survey...

Hoon caught out

This from the BBC...

Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon has become the second cabinet minister in 24 hours to repay money he claimed on his designated second home.

Mr Hoon claimed bills in advance for a full year on his Derbyshire property - but in the same year he claimed a different house was his second home. It was an "inadvertent administrative error", he said, and apologised.

That's all right then.

Railway Eye readers are invited to diddle their employer for a similar amount (£668) and then use the same lame excuse (plus apology).

I'm sure they'll understand and invite you to remain in post.

Hoon - go now.

Nice of us to pay Hoon's accountant to prepare his annual tax return.

This from today's Telegraph:

Mr Hoon, the Transport Secretary, who did not pay capital gains tax on the sale of his London flat, was the biggest claimer, submitting accountancy bills totalling almost £3,000.

Geoff - your shameless troughing means you have forfeited all trust we had in you.

Go now you shabby little man.

Hoon of that Ilk?

***Iain Dale suggesting that Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon may have the same CGT questions to answer as Hazel Blears***

Talk is cheap

Does anyone actually believe this cobblers?

North may get two high speed railway links

Does Hoon really take us for idiots?

Oi Geoff! Here's a top tip.

Stop the spin and start the work.

IEP derailed?

So it looks as if the IEP procurement fiasco has finally collapsed because Britain's broke.

Whilst we are still awaiting an announcement from Geoff Hoon here is a picture of the great man keeping his head down and drinking coffee (courtesy of The man on the Bernina Express).


Readers are invited to spot the mug.

The late Geoff Hoon

Word reaches The Fact Compiler that Geoff Hoon was nearly late for this morning's ceremonial send off from Nottingham of the new Leeds service.

As DafT demanded the new services introduction presumably it could also have demanded its delay?

Minister dibbed and dobbed

The railways green credentials were sadly lacking this afternoon when Transport Minister Geoff Hoon presented Cub Scouts with their new safety badge at St Pancras International.

The choice of an EMT HST as a backdrop was rather unfortunate as the VP185 engine produced a veritable smokescreen on departure which masked Hoon from the cameras and probably shortened the lives of the poor Scouts!

The Fact Compiler hopes that Hoon complied with the law and was CRB checked before he consorted with minors?

Poltrhoon?

Good news for the incredulous.

Geoff Hoon is again trying to shift the blame for above inflation fares increases onto TOCs

This from today's Times:

Mr Hoon said that he had urged the main train companies “to bear in mind the difficult economic circumstances when setting their fares”.

A source at the Department for Transport said Mr Hoon was disappointed that most companies had chosen to ignore him.

If only we could Buff, if only we could.

Let's be clear.

It is Government policy that regulated fares rise annually by RPI+1.

Unregulated fare increases are notionally at the discretion of TOC's.

But they are set in line with Government policy which seeks to reduce taxpayer support to the railway by increasing passenger contributions.

If Geoff Hoon were really serious about curtailing increases to unregulated fares he could instruct his Civil Servents to issue appropriate directions and guidance to TOCs; the same TOC's whose franchises are let and managed by his own Department.

In the meantime Hoon's continued pretence that this has nothing to do with him is beginning to look more and more craven.

Gerrymander Rail

So Geoff Hoon has decreed that Great Western, Northern and Transpennine will be the beneficiaries of "up to 200 new rail carriages".

In particular the Secretary of State wants to see the new vehicles benefit rail passengers in the "Thames Valley, around Bristol and on longer distance inter-urban services in Northern England".

The Fact Compiler wonders why?

Thames Valley:
Reading West (Lab)
Oxford East (Lab)
Slough (Lab)
Swindon South (Lab)
Swindon North (Lab)

Around Bristol:
Bristol South (Lab)
Bristol East (Lab)
Bristol North West (Lab)
Kingswood (Lab)
Wansdyke (Lab)

Inter-urban services in Northern England
City of Durham (Lab)
Kingston Upon Hull (Lab)
Leeds Central (Lab)
Leeds East (Lab)
Leeds North East (Lab)
Leeds West (Lab)
Liverpool Garston (Lab)
Liverpool Riverside (Lab)
Liverpool Walton (Lab)
Liverpool Wavertree (Lab)
Manchester Central (Lab)
Manchester Blackley (Lab)
Manchester Gorton (Lab)
Middlesborough (Lab)
Newcastle upon Tyne Central (Lab)
Newcastle upon Tyne East & Wallsend (Lab)
Newcastle upon Tyne North (Lab)
Sheffield Central (Lab)
Sheffield Attercliffe (Lab)
Sheffield Brightside (Lab)
Sheffield Heeley (Lab)
Sheffield Hillsborough (Lab)
City of York (Lab)

You get the idea...

Now if TrainSardine.Org could only force a couple of byelections on the Norwich - Liverpool route...

Wimp

Geoff Hoon today approved plans to expand Stansted Airport in Essex.

Planning permission for the expansion was originally refused by Uttlesford Council in November 2006 on grounds of noise and environmental concerns.

Of course, former defence secretary, Gende Homo is renowned for his bravery.

Therefore, Railway Eye readers will be unsurprised that he choose to sneak the announcement out via a Written answer, rather than delivering it on the floor of the House.

Looks like Labour is now resigned to loosing all their seats south of the line from the Wash to the Severn.

Fat Controller?

Anglo Polish Railway website 'Behind the Water Tower' has scoured Geoff Hoon's website to come up with the following pictorial hostage to fortune.

The Fact Compiler hopes that the press doesn't get hold of a copy.