Cabinet ministers secretly agreed that Britain should put security on the table in Brexit talks, despite official Government denials, it is reported.
There was "panic" from EU leaders about the impact the UK's exit would have on security in the face of "increased Russian aggression", according to The Sunday Telegraph.
The paper claims leaked minutes of a Brexit Cabinet committee meeting on 7 March show ministers identified the UK's "very strong hand" on defence as a key advantage in negotiations.
The disclosure comes after Boris Johnson attempted to play down a row triggered by Theresa May in her Article 50 letter to the European Council president, Donald Tusk, by claiming Britain's support for EU security was "unconditional".
In her letter, which sparked a furious backlash in the EU, the Prime Minister said failure to reach a Brexit deal on trade "would mean our co-operation in the fight against crime and terrorism would be weakened".
But in an interview with France's Le Figaro, asked whether Britain was trying to use security cooperation as a bargaining chip to secure an EU trade deal, Mr Johnson said: "No, not at all."
He added: "We consider the historic contribution of the UK to the security and stability of Europe as unconditional.
"We will maintain this contribution, which benefits all of Europe and the world. It's in our interest and in the interest of others, and we hope this will be one of the planks of our deep and special partnership (with the EU)."
But according to The Sunday Telegraph, ministers at the 7 March meeting said security would be a "defining" issue for the EU and that Britain should not "underplay" its hand as it seeks to secure a favourable free trade deal.
The paper claims Cabinet ministers Sir Michael Fallon, David Davis, Philip Hammond and Boris Johnson are all understood to have spoken up about the importance of British security to the EU ahead of talks.
A source familiar with the discussions told the paper: "While there were nuances, I think the absolute view around the table was we are in a very strong position and the Europeans know it.
"We go into these negotiations with security and defence being a big thing in our corner."
A Government source has declined to comment on the leak, but said that Britain wants "a deep and special partnership with the EU covering all aspects including security".
The PM faced allegations of "blackmail" and "threats" by EU figures after her Article 50 Brexit letter mentioned security 11 times across six pages.
On the same day Amber Rudd, the Home Secretary, said in a Sky News interview: "If we left Europol, then we would take our information with us."
Number 10 has insisted no "threat" was intended and that the UK Government was not explicitly linking the country's help on security with a trade deal.
However, The Sunday Telegraph claims to have obtained an official account of the 7 March meeting, at which a paper on Britain's defence and security drawn up by the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign Office is said to have been submitted for discussion.
According to the paper, it both spelled out the country's existing EU security links and reported back what EU leaders were thinking on the topic, including rising concerns over Russian aggression.
Mr Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, led discussions by saying that Britain had a "strong hand" at the negotiating table when it came to security, the paper reports.
He stressed that "we should not be a demandeur" in negotiations when it came to security - the French word for someone who makes demands - but be aware of the tactical advantage.
Sir Michael, the Defence Secretary, is understood to have said: "Insecurity in Europe is at its highest since the Cold War. There is increased Russian aggression.
"The EU needs our capabilities," he is recorded as adding, before saying that the UK had "high cards" to play at the negotiating table on security.
Mr Davis, the Brexit Secretary, is noted as saying: "I agree that Britain has high cards and a very strong hand [on security].
"The UK is in a strong position and there is a degree of panic within Europe over defence policy and cooperation." He is said to have added that the UK should not "underplay" its hand.
Mr Hammond, the Chancellor, said that the EU would not offer an economic relationship which deterred Britain from co-operating on defence. He added the UK should make that "clear" during talks.
The Prime Minister is said to have attended the meeting and summed up at the end. She is understood to have said that defence and security were a "defining issue for the EU" and that the UK is in a "strong position".
Those familiar with the talks said there was no mention of "threatening" the EU but an acceptance the UK could use its strong position during negotiations.
A Government source told The Sunday Telegraph: "We do not comment on Cabinet Committee leaks, however we have been clear that we want a deep and special partnership with the EU covering all aspects including security.
"Our position is simply a statement of fact - if we leave with no agreement in place, the arrangements we currently have will lapse. We are not bargaining security with anyone - we want to maintain the degree of cooperation on these matters that we have currently."
Sunday, April 2, 2017
Ecuador election could determine Julian Assange's fate
Ecuadorians go to the polls to elect a new president, a choice that could have repercussions thousands of miles away for the fate of Julian Assange.
Sunday's vote pits the government-backed leftist candidate Lenin Moreno against a conservative former banker, Guillermo Lasso.
Both candidates have spoken during the campaign of how they would deal with Mr Assange, who is holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.
Mr Lasso has said if he is elected he will evict the WikiLeaks founder within 30 days of taking office.
Mr Moreno, who is aligned with outgoing President Rafael Correa and was hand-picked by him, has said he would let Mr Assange stay in the embassy.
Mr Assange sought asylum in the embassy in 2012, fearing he would be deported to Sweden to answer allegations of sexual assault.
He says he is innocent, and fears that from Sweden he might be extradited to the United States, where he is wanted on espionage charges.
The election is expected to be tight.
Mr Moreno is seen as continuing Mr Correa's "Citizens' Revolution" while Mr Lasso is promising to deliver a jolt to the nation's beleaguered economy.
The country is heavily dependent on oil and its economy is suffering a downturn as oil prices remain low. It is expected to shrink by 2.7% this year.
Surveys show a majority of citizens are keen for change after 10 years of Mr Correa's iron-fisted rule.
But in the final weeks of the race Mr Moreno has inched ahead amid an aggressive campaign to cast his rival as a wealthy, out-of-touch politician.
A victory by Mr Lasso would further tilt Latin America toward the right following a series of conservative election victories.
The vote is a run-off between the two top candidates.
In the first round of balloting, held on 19 February, Mr Moreno fell just short of the required percentage of votes to avoid a runoff election against Mr Lasso.
The process was marred by accusations of fraud from both sides and angry protests, as the vote count dragged on for several days before the official results were announced.
Sunday's vote pits the government-backed leftist candidate Lenin Moreno against a conservative former banker, Guillermo Lasso.
Both candidates have spoken during the campaign of how they would deal with Mr Assange, who is holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.
Mr Lasso has said if he is elected he will evict the WikiLeaks founder within 30 days of taking office.
Mr Moreno, who is aligned with outgoing President Rafael Correa and was hand-picked by him, has said he would let Mr Assange stay in the embassy.
Mr Assange sought asylum in the embassy in 2012, fearing he would be deported to Sweden to answer allegations of sexual assault.
He says he is innocent, and fears that from Sweden he might be extradited to the United States, where he is wanted on espionage charges.
The election is expected to be tight.
Mr Moreno is seen as continuing Mr Correa's "Citizens' Revolution" while Mr Lasso is promising to deliver a jolt to the nation's beleaguered economy.
The country is heavily dependent on oil and its economy is suffering a downturn as oil prices remain low. It is expected to shrink by 2.7% this year.
Surveys show a majority of citizens are keen for change after 10 years of Mr Correa's iron-fisted rule.
But in the final weeks of the race Mr Moreno has inched ahead amid an aggressive campaign to cast his rival as a wealthy, out-of-touch politician.
A victory by Mr Lasso would further tilt Latin America toward the right following a series of conservative election victories.
The vote is a run-off between the two top candidates.
In the first round of balloting, held on 19 February, Mr Moreno fell just short of the required percentage of votes to avoid a runoff election against Mr Lasso.
The process was marred by accusations of fraud from both sides and angry protests, as the vote count dragged on for several days before the official results were announced.
Saturday, April 1, 2017
Six arrested over 'savage' asylum seeker attack
Six people have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and violent disorder after a teenage asylum seeker was beaten up and left unconscious.
The four men and two women, all aged between 20 and 24, were arrested on Saturday evening at several addresses in Croydon, southeast London, and taken into custody at a police station.
Detectives are continuing to appeal for information and witnesses to the attack, which is being treated as a suspected hate crime.
The 17-year-old asylum seeker, a Kurdish Iranian, was waiting at a bus stop with two friends at about 11.40pm on Friday when they were approached by a group of eight people.
After discovering he was an asylum seeker, they chased him and launched a "savage" attack including "repeated blows to the head", police said.
The teenager remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition with a fractured skull, a blood clot on his brain and facial injuries.
His two friends escaped with minor injuries.
DS Kris Blamires, from Croydon CID, said: "A number of people came to the aid of the victim as he lay unconscious and injured following the assault.
"The suspects are believed to have made off in the direction of the Goat Pub, Broom Road following the attack.
"I would encourage all those who came to his aid and those in the immediate area who witnessed the attack or saw the males leave the scene to get in touch.
"All communities stand together against hate and we would ask anyone with any information to come forward immediately."
The local community has been left shocked by the ferocity of the attack, and extra officers have been out and about to try to reassure people.
Tory minister Gavin Barwell, Croydon Central's MP, described the attackers as "scum".
"I think most people in Croydon will be as appalled as I am that what appears to have happened is a young man who came to this country seeking sanctuary has apparently been targeted because of his ethnic background," he said.
"It's an appalling crime and I hope the people responsible are caught quickly and receive the full force of British justice."
He said Croydon generally had "very good relations between people of different backgrounds".
"This is completely out of character but that is no comfort to the individual who is fighting for his life now," he added.
Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott suggested the Conservatives had failed to get to grips with hate crime.
She said: "Sadly this is not an isolated incident but part of a sustained increase in hate crimes that this Tory Government is yet to offer any effective response to.
"With right-wing politicians across the world scapegoating migrants, refugees and others for their economic problems, we are seeing a deeply worrying rise in the politics of hate.
"We must make clear that there is no place for anti-foreigner myths, racism and hate in our society."
:: Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
The four men and two women, all aged between 20 and 24, were arrested on Saturday evening at several addresses in Croydon, southeast London, and taken into custody at a police station.
Detectives are continuing to appeal for information and witnesses to the attack, which is being treated as a suspected hate crime.
The 17-year-old asylum seeker, a Kurdish Iranian, was waiting at a bus stop with two friends at about 11.40pm on Friday when they were approached by a group of eight people.
After discovering he was an asylum seeker, they chased him and launched a "savage" attack including "repeated blows to the head", police said.
The teenager remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition with a fractured skull, a blood clot on his brain and facial injuries.
His two friends escaped with minor injuries.
DS Kris Blamires, from Croydon CID, said: "A number of people came to the aid of the victim as he lay unconscious and injured following the assault.
"The suspects are believed to have made off in the direction of the Goat Pub, Broom Road following the attack.
"I would encourage all those who came to his aid and those in the immediate area who witnessed the attack or saw the males leave the scene to get in touch.
"All communities stand together against hate and we would ask anyone with any information to come forward immediately."
The local community has been left shocked by the ferocity of the attack, and extra officers have been out and about to try to reassure people.
Tory minister Gavin Barwell, Croydon Central's MP, described the attackers as "scum".
"I think most people in Croydon will be as appalled as I am that what appears to have happened is a young man who came to this country seeking sanctuary has apparently been targeted because of his ethnic background," he said.
"It's an appalling crime and I hope the people responsible are caught quickly and receive the full force of British justice."
He said Croydon generally had "very good relations between people of different backgrounds".
"This is completely out of character but that is no comfort to the individual who is fighting for his life now," he added.
Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott suggested the Conservatives had failed to get to grips with hate crime.
She said: "Sadly this is not an isolated incident but part of a sustained increase in hate crimes that this Tory Government is yet to offer any effective response to.
"With right-wing politicians across the world scapegoating migrants, refugees and others for their economic problems, we are seeing a deeply worrying rise in the politics of hate.
"We must make clear that there is no place for anti-foreigner myths, racism and hate in our society."
:: Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Fiery protests in Paraguay after controversial Congress vote
Violent protests have erupted in Paraguay after lawmakers secretly voted in favour of a constitutional amendment allowing the country's president to seek re-election.
Demonstrators stormed Congress and set fire to the building - and footage showed protesters smashing windows, burning tyres and clashing with police.
Riot officers used water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets to try and bring the unruly crowds under control.
Several politicians and journalists - as well as many police officers - have reportedly been injured in the unrest, with President Horacio Cartes calling for calm in a statement released on Twitter.
"Democracy is not conquered or defended with violence and you can be sure this government will continue to put its best effort into maintaining order in the republic," he wrote.
The landlocked South American country prohibits re-election, a measure introduced after a brutal dictatorship fell in 1989.
Opponents said allowing presidents to seek more than one five-year term would weaken Paraguay's democratic institutions, and described the vote as illegal.
The controversial proposal now goes from the Senate to the House, where it appears to have strong support from lawmakers.
Mr Cartes, a soft drink and tobacco mogul, was elected in 2013 and is due to leave office next year - but some of his backers want him to run again.
An opposition party has filed an appeal to the Supreme Court to try and get the congressional vote overturned.
Senator Desiree Masi, from the rival Progressive Democratic Party, said: "A coup has been carried out. We will resist and we invite the people to resist with us."
Demonstrators stormed Congress and set fire to the building - and footage showed protesters smashing windows, burning tyres and clashing with police.
Riot officers used water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets to try and bring the unruly crowds under control.
Several politicians and journalists - as well as many police officers - have reportedly been injured in the unrest, with President Horacio Cartes calling for calm in a statement released on Twitter.
"Democracy is not conquered or defended with violence and you can be sure this government will continue to put its best effort into maintaining order in the republic," he wrote.
The landlocked South American country prohibits re-election, a measure introduced after a brutal dictatorship fell in 1989.
Opponents said allowing presidents to seek more than one five-year term would weaken Paraguay's democratic institutions, and described the vote as illegal.
The controversial proposal now goes from the Senate to the House, where it appears to have strong support from lawmakers.
Mr Cartes, a soft drink and tobacco mogul, was elected in 2013 and is due to leave office next year - but some of his backers want him to run again.
An opposition party has filed an appeal to the Supreme Court to try and get the congressional vote overturned.
Senator Desiree Masi, from the rival Progressive Democratic Party, said: "A coup has been carried out. We will resist and we invite the people to resist with us."
'Barbaric' burglars flew to Dubai after torturing victims
A husband and wife were tied up by burglars who poured boiling water over their heads and threatened to chop off his ears and her fingers, a court has heard.
The "barbaric" criminals also said they were going to "dig her eyes out" and "get" their grandchildren, according to prosecutors.
Kacey Adams, 34, and Daniel Wallace, 33, made off with around £50,000 in the raid on a bungalow in Halstead, Kent in April 2016.
They were arrested as they flew back from Dubai the following month and their luggage was found to contain more than £18,000 of luxury goods.
Before the attack, victim Janis Buswell was knitting clothes for her expected great-grandchild and husband John was watching a boxing match on TV.
Adams and Wallace tied them up and tortured them for two hours, demanding to know the codes for their safes, Chelmsford Crown Court was told.
They tipped a kettle of boiling water over Mrs Buswell's head, which made her husband so angry he broke free from his cable ties, the court heard.
The men, wearing all black, threatened him with a knife, and he took them to a bathroom safe containing £3,000-£5,000.
Adams, who wore a mask, and Wallace, who had a hoodie drawn tight around his face, then tipped a second kettle of boiling water over Mrs Buswell, 64, and said they knew there was more money.
"She was screaming in terrible pain," said prosecutor Tracy Ayling QC
Mr Buswell, 66, took the men to a second safe, hidden under the floor, which contained around £40,000.
Their ordeal continued as the men tipped boiling water over his head, threatened to chop off his wife's fingers with a knife and his ears with scissors.
The men also told Mr Buswell they were going to "dig his wife's eye out then they would see where the fifties were", said Ms Ayling.
"They said they knew he changed £50 notes in the local pub," she said. "They said they knew where members of the family lived and said 'we're going to get your grandchildren'."
After the men fled with cash and jewellery, Mr Buswell was able to untie himself and raise the alarm.
His wife suffered burns to a fifth of her body, was placed in an induced coma and has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. She said the criminals' behaviour was "barbaric".
Adams and Wallace have both admitted aggravated burglary and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
The two men smirked and chatted to each other throughout the sentencing hearing in Chelmsford and are set to hear their punishment on Monday.
A third burglar has never been caught, while a fourth man Drew Morris, 27, admitted to being the getaway driver but said he did not enter the house or know what was going to happen.
The "barbaric" criminals also said they were going to "dig her eyes out" and "get" their grandchildren, according to prosecutors.
Kacey Adams, 34, and Daniel Wallace, 33, made off with around £50,000 in the raid on a bungalow in Halstead, Kent in April 2016.
They were arrested as they flew back from Dubai the following month and their luggage was found to contain more than £18,000 of luxury goods.
Before the attack, victim Janis Buswell was knitting clothes for her expected great-grandchild and husband John was watching a boxing match on TV.
Adams and Wallace tied them up and tortured them for two hours, demanding to know the codes for their safes, Chelmsford Crown Court was told.
They tipped a kettle of boiling water over Mrs Buswell's head, which made her husband so angry he broke free from his cable ties, the court heard.
The men, wearing all black, threatened him with a knife, and he took them to a bathroom safe containing £3,000-£5,000.
Adams, who wore a mask, and Wallace, who had a hoodie drawn tight around his face, then tipped a second kettle of boiling water over Mrs Buswell, 64, and said they knew there was more money.
"She was screaming in terrible pain," said prosecutor Tracy Ayling QC
Mr Buswell, 66, took the men to a second safe, hidden under the floor, which contained around £40,000.
Their ordeal continued as the men tipped boiling water over his head, threatened to chop off his wife's fingers with a knife and his ears with scissors.
The men also told Mr Buswell they were going to "dig his wife's eye out then they would see where the fifties were", said Ms Ayling.
"They said they knew he changed £50 notes in the local pub," she said. "They said they knew where members of the family lived and said 'we're going to get your grandchildren'."
After the men fled with cash and jewellery, Mr Buswell was able to untie himself and raise the alarm.
His wife suffered burns to a fifth of her body, was placed in an induced coma and has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. She said the criminals' behaviour was "barbaric".
Adams and Wallace have both admitted aggravated burglary and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
The two men smirked and chatted to each other throughout the sentencing hearing in Chelmsford and are set to hear their punishment on Monday.
A third burglar has never been caught, while a fourth man Drew Morris, 27, admitted to being the getaway driver but said he did not enter the house or know what was going to happen.
Donald Trump walks out of ceremony without signing executive orders
Donald Trump walked out of a televised executive order signing ceremony without approving the directives after being asked about a sacked aide.
The US President was speaking at a podium in the Oval Office, with a folder containing the official documents executive orders and a pen laid on the desk for his signature.
But when a reporter tackled him about his former national security advisor Michael Flynn, Mr Trump abruptly walked out, leaving his Vice President Mike Pence to collect the folder.
The White House said he later signed the two orders, which focused on reducing the trade deficit, out of view of cameras.
The first one gave the Commerce Department 90 days to compile a report on the factors behind the trade deficit, while the second aims to increase collection of duties on imports.
Mr Flynn has offered to testify on the Russian involvement in the US presidential election campaign in exchange for immunity from prosecution.
The US President was speaking at a podium in the Oval Office, with a folder containing the official documents executive orders and a pen laid on the desk for his signature.
But when a reporter tackled him about his former national security advisor Michael Flynn, Mr Trump abruptly walked out, leaving his Vice President Mike Pence to collect the folder.
The White House said he later signed the two orders, which focused on reducing the trade deficit, out of view of cameras.
The first one gave the Commerce Department 90 days to compile a report on the factors behind the trade deficit, while the second aims to increase collection of duties on imports.
Mr Flynn has offered to testify on the Russian involvement in the US presidential election campaign in exchange for immunity from prosecution.
Half UK rail journeys will be on foreign-owned services after franchise begins
The Government is facing fresh criticism over Britain's rail network after it was found that half of all passenger journeys will soon be on services owned by foreign countries.
The Press Association's analysis of industry data comes after the announcement earlier this week that Hong Kong company MTR will help run the South West Trains franchise for the next seven years from August.
It follows the recent awarding of the c2c franchise, which runs from the City of London to Essex, to Italian state operator Trenitalia.
The equivalent of 863 million such trips were made last year, which was 50% of total journeys, the figures show.
The breakdown of the annual journeys made on Britain's railways on services owned by foreign countries are:
:: Germany 391 million
:: Netherlands 197 million
:: France 143 million
:: Hong Kong 86 million
:: Italy 46 million
Labour's shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald called for the railways to be renationalised as he claimed it is "ludicrous" that foreign government-owned firms are invited to run UK services "in their own interests" but the British state "is banned from doing so".
He said: "With promised upgrades delayed or cancelled, punctuality at its worst for a decade and fares up 27% since 2010, it's becoming increasingly difficult for the Tories to justify allowing private and foreign state-owned companies to take money out of the system, which should be used to improve services or hold fares down.
"When in public hands, the East Coast Mainline returned over £1bn to the Treasury, kept fares down, had record passenger satisfaction and had excellent industrial relations. We should be building on that success."
Mick Cash, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, said privatisation has failed passengers and left foreign state train operators "laughing all the way to the bank".
He added: "The case for public ownership of UK rail to end this racket is now overwhelming."
The number of journeys being made on Britain's railways has more than doubled over the past two decades, from 846 million in 1997/8 to 1.72 billion in 2015/16.
Recent analysis by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), representing train companies and Network Rail, found that 6,400 more train services will be running each week by 2021 due to the ongoing £50bn investment in the network.
RDG chief executive Paul Plummer said: "Passengers and taxpayers have benefited from franchising, where rail companies from around the world bring new ideas and innovation to Britain's railway, and railways across the world still want to learn from our successes.
"Rail companies have worked together to transform Britain's railway, doubling the number of passengers and creating one of the world's safest railways.
"Under franchising, the railway has gone from costing taxpayers £2bn a year in terms of day-to-day costs to contributing £200m, money which helps to fund major rail upgrades."
A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: "Rail franchises are awarded through fair and open competition to the bidder offering the best deal for passengers and the taxpayer. We look for expertise and knowledge to build a better railway."
The Government is delivering the biggest rail modernisation programme for over a century which will improve journeys by providing "more seats, more of the services people want and modern stations," she added.
The Press Association's analysis of industry data comes after the announcement earlier this week that Hong Kong company MTR will help run the South West Trains franchise for the next seven years from August.
It follows the recent awarding of the c2c franchise, which runs from the City of London to Essex, to Italian state operator Trenitalia.
The equivalent of 863 million such trips were made last year, which was 50% of total journeys, the figures show.
The breakdown of the annual journeys made on Britain's railways on services owned by foreign countries are:
:: Germany 391 million
:: Netherlands 197 million
:: France 143 million
:: Hong Kong 86 million
:: Italy 46 million
Labour's shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald called for the railways to be renationalised as he claimed it is "ludicrous" that foreign government-owned firms are invited to run UK services "in their own interests" but the British state "is banned from doing so".
He said: "With promised upgrades delayed or cancelled, punctuality at its worst for a decade and fares up 27% since 2010, it's becoming increasingly difficult for the Tories to justify allowing private and foreign state-owned companies to take money out of the system, which should be used to improve services or hold fares down.
"When in public hands, the East Coast Mainline returned over £1bn to the Treasury, kept fares down, had record passenger satisfaction and had excellent industrial relations. We should be building on that success."
Mick Cash, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, said privatisation has failed passengers and left foreign state train operators "laughing all the way to the bank".
He added: "The case for public ownership of UK rail to end this racket is now overwhelming."
The number of journeys being made on Britain's railways has more than doubled over the past two decades, from 846 million in 1997/8 to 1.72 billion in 2015/16.
Recent analysis by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), representing train companies and Network Rail, found that 6,400 more train services will be running each week by 2021 due to the ongoing £50bn investment in the network.
RDG chief executive Paul Plummer said: "Passengers and taxpayers have benefited from franchising, where rail companies from around the world bring new ideas and innovation to Britain's railway, and railways across the world still want to learn from our successes.
"Rail companies have worked together to transform Britain's railway, doubling the number of passengers and creating one of the world's safest railways.
"Under franchising, the railway has gone from costing taxpayers £2bn a year in terms of day-to-day costs to contributing £200m, money which helps to fund major rail upgrades."
A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: "Rail franchises are awarded through fair and open competition to the bidder offering the best deal for passengers and the taxpayer. We look for expertise and knowledge to build a better railway."
The Government is delivering the biggest rail modernisation programme for over a century which will improve journeys by providing "more seats, more of the services people want and modern stations," she added.
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