Introduced on BBC TV’s nightly Points West programme as ‘one of the rising stars of David Cameron’s government’, Devizes MP Claire Perry was interviewed at Bedwyn station very early on Wednesday morning (July 23) about her constituents concerns over the future of their rail services.
She was there to talk to rail passengers who are worried about the possible loss of through trains to London when the new Great Western franchise is awarded – it is currently out to consultation with proposed alternative plans that do not delight many rail users.
Commuters interviewed at Bedwyn did express concerns about the loss of services and the uncertainties and delays involved in having to change trains at either Newbury or Reading – as the consultation document on the new franchise suggests.
Promoted in last week’s reshuffle to be a minister at the Department of Transport, Mrs Perry’s main responsibility is railways and major projects (excepting HS2).
She has been very supportive indeed of local campaigns to extend electrification beyond Newbury, to keep through trains from Bedwyn to London and to bring rail services back to Marlborough – the ‘Marlborough Rail Link’ campaign. A couple of weeks ago she was up early to meet passengers at Pewsey station.
But at Bedwyn, Points West’s Political Editor Paul Barltrop asked her, will being a minister dilute that support?
“Is it a problem? Look, this sort of thing happens a lot – ministers will have constituency interests. The process is you basically absent yourself from final decisions. But you know where to go to lobby, you know where to go to give in information – I suppose it sharpens the mind in terms of campaigning priorities locally.”
One thing is certain, although she did not expect a job in the reshuffle, she is someone who has always been fascinated by trains and she is “absolutely delighted to have such an interesting job.”
Early as it was, she was still talking about details to members of the Bedwyn Trains Passenger Group’s Steve Smith and to Dr Sam Page of Transition Marlborough – as well as to commuters.
In her local newspaper column Mrs Perry emphasised how useful local campaigns had been in preparing her for her new role in government: “The phrase ‘vertical learning curve’ characterises the last few days as I get to grips with my new job, although I have been helped by my local work we have already done on rail services.”
“It has given me a good understanding of the huge electrification project in our region, the service requirements for the First Great Western franchise currently under discussion and the importance of fast, frequent and direct train links from Pewsey and Bedwyn for the economy of Wiltshire.”
However, the three rail campaigns she has supported do pose some very tricky questions for the Department of Transport and its ministers. And all three issues are wide open at present and need input from train users and campaigners.
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