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Southern rail strikes: Staff announce walkout over Christmas and New Year

Staff reporter(wp/es):

Hundreds of thousands of rail passengers are set to face chaos over Christmas after Southern Rail workers announced fresh plans for strike action.

The RMT union said its members would stage a three-day walkout over the festive period from December 22.

A further three-day strike is planned from New Year’s Eve. 

The union made the announcement ahead of a 48-hour walkout from midnight tonight which will bring more travel misery for passengers.

Southern Rail has already been hit by a series of strikes and staff shortages this year in a long-running and bitter row over its plans to change the role of conductors.

The rail operator and the union have held hours of talk but the dispute remains deadlocked.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said Southern's owners, Govia Thameslink Railway, and the Government had made it clear they have no interest in resolving the long-running row.

"Yet again, the sheer pig-headedness of the company and the Government means that our members are being forced to take further industrial action in a bid to maintain a safe and secure service on Southern Rail," he said.

Mr Cash repeated his call to Transport Secretary Chris Grayling to "get out of his bunker" and try to help resolve the row.

He said: "He continues to ignore us. If Government ministers can meet with our colleagues from the Prison Officers Association over safety in prisons then there is no reason whatsoever why they can't meet with RMT over safety on our railways."

A spokesman for Southern Rail said: "“Not content with causing months of misery, the RMT has now hit a new low and is determined to cancel Christmas for the travelling public.

"These latest strikes will not just hit families wanting to get home for Christmas but also the shops and businesses for whom Christmas is their busiest time. 

"These strikes are spiteful, vindictive and pointless given the majority of conductors have now signed up to the new on-board role. 

"This is has never been about safety; it’s purely about the RMT hanging on to outdated working practices and union power."

Motorcyclist killed in collision with car at busy crossroads

Staff reporter(wp/es):

A motorcyclist has died after colliding with a car at a busy crossroads in east London.

The man, aged in his 40s, was found seriously injured near Horns Road in Ilford by paramedics.

He was rushed to an east London hospital by London Air Ambulance but died a short while later.

The driver, also aged in his 40s, was arrested at the scene of the crash on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Pictures from the scene showed police tape around the entire crossing with wreckage strewn on the tarmac.

The A12 Eastern Avenue remains closed and officers are appealing for information from witnesses.

A Met spokeswoman said: “Police were called at 7.23am on Thursday to reports of a collision between a car and a motorcycle on the A12 eastbound at Ley Street junction with Horns Road.

“Officers, the London Ambulance Service, London Fire Brigade and London's Air Ambulance found a male motorcyclist, in his 40s seriously injured. 

“He was taken to an east London hospital where he died at 09:37hrs.

“The car stopped at the scene and the driver, a male in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of death by dangerous driving. 

“He is currently in custody at an east London police station.”

shipping worker shot dead on doorstep

Crime reporter(wp/es):

Detectives launched a murder hunt today after a young man who worked for a shipping company was shot dead on his doorstep in front of his mother.

James Owusu was speaking on his phone with his front door open in Harlesden when two men casually walked past and blasted him in the back, his family said.

Police, paramedics and firearms officers rushed to the scene in Tynsdale Road at 10.45pm last night after reports of a shooting.

Mr Owusu, 22, a business administration graduate, was treated in his home for mutliple gunshot wounds but died at the scene.

Today his devastated family told how the victim worked for a shipping company in Wembley and was also a part time DJ.

His mother Deborah described how witnessed her son slump on the doorstep after he was gunned down.

She told the Standard : “He was my only son, I am absolutely devastated. He was a good boy in every way. We cannot understand why this has happened I am heartbroken.”

His uncle George  said: “He was a bright, lovely, gentle guy. He was never in any trouble. We cannot understand. He was shot in front of his mother.

"We are all just confused, I spent a lot if time with him, we even worked together. He was no gang member or anything like that.”

Another uncle Tom Katro, 49, said Mr Owusu’s family were originally from Ghana and were well respected in the community. He said his nephew was brought up as a Jehovah’s Witness and attended bible reading classes.

Mr Katro, who runs a valet service, said: “James was a lovely boy who knew his scriptures well. He was bright and was liked by everyone who knew him. He went to university and his family were very proud of him. 

“This was not a boy who was in trouble. His mum and dad are devastated. He was shot in front of his mother who has been very ill. He was her only son this is just so terrible.”

A witness, who did not want to be named, said: “Two people walked by and shot him in the back. He was on his phone and the door was open, he was not expecting it.

"I tried to save him and gave him CPR but there’s nothing more I could have done. He was a good friend, we are all hurting.”

The boss of the shipping company where the victim worked described him as a “model employee”.

Sam Amiah, 63, who runs Sam Amiah Shipping, said: “He was really good. I knew him from a little boy because I am close to the family. He worked hard, was always punctual and was good on the phone.

“Just hours before he was killed he called me to talk about the business and was doing an extra course at the University of Hertfordshire to improve himself.

"He did some DJing as well but it never got in the way off his work for me. Believe me, he was a good person.”

Resdients described hearing four load bangs which they thought was fireworks going off.

Pauline Murray, 43, said: “There were four load thuds, I thought it was fireworks going off so thought no more about it. It’s such a tragedy. It happens too much around here.”

The shooting took place just fifty metres from the spot where Oilver Tetlow, 27, was killed in a hail of machine gun fire in March. There is no evidence the incidents are linked.

Scotland Yard appealed for witnesses to the shooting. There have been no arrests.

Theresa May 'could call election next year' after High Court ruling

Pic: Theresa May PM
Political reporter(wp/es):

Theresa May could call a snap general election next year to ensure she has enough supportive MPs to start the Brexitprocess, ministers have said.

Three judges today ruled that the Prime Minister must give MPs a vote before invoking Article 50, which starts the countdown for Britain to leave the EU.

Speaking after the High Court ruling, Tory former minister Dominic Raab said if the debate gets to the stage where MPs in the Remain camp are threatening to block the triggering of Article 50 in a Commons vote, Mrs May could call an election.

Mrs May has said she will formally begin the Brexit process by the end of March and has insisted she will not reveal her negotiation plans, despite calls from MPs for her to do so.

The next election is not due to take place until 2020 unless the Government loses a vote of no confidence or there is a vote by MPs with a two-thirds majority in favour of an early election.

Appearing on BBC Two's Daily Politics alongside Labour MP Stephen Kinnock, Mr Raab said: "I think the elephant in the room here is if we get to the stage where effectively Stephen and his colleagues are not willing to allow this negotiation to even begin, I think there must be an increased chance that we will need to go to the country again.

"I think that would be a mistake and I don't think those trying to frustrate the verdict in the referendum will be rewarded."

But Mr Kinnock accused Mr Raab and Mrs May of being "scared" of MPs.

He said: "I don't know what Dominic and the Prime Minister and all these people are scared of. 

"Why don't we just have a mature, sober debate in Parliament, as we do on any issue that comes before us, and this happens to be the most important since the Second World War."

Labour MP Mike Gapes said a general election before Article 50 is triggered was now likely.

He tweeted: "I predicted an early election. I think this court judgment makes it now very likely before Article 50 is triggered."

Meanwhile, Ladbrokes slashed its odds on a general election next year to 2/1.