Let's sort out rail strike mess like a family, says new minister

NEW Transport Secretary AnneMarie Trevelyan today offered to "work as a family" with rail unions and train bosses to find a compromise to end the wave of strikes blighting the country.

- Nicholas Cecil

With a shift away from her predecessors' more confrontational approach, she reached out to the militant RMT and other unions to seek a "landing zone" which would resolve the dispute if all parties "put their best foot forward".

Speaking to the Standard in her first interview as Transport Secretary, she said: "We need to work as a family to find balance.

"I'm a mum of a family. Negotiation, compromise, everyone not quite getting every vegetable on the plate that they want, or every pudding that they want, that's how life works and in this it's no different.

"Hopefully, my view of the world and the ability to bring everyone together is something that will get everyone to agree that we can find a landing zone that we can all live with."

'Strike offers need to be realistic and everyone has to put their best foot forward'

Her approach has made an immediate impression, with RMT general secretary Mick Lynch speaking of a "good meeting with a positive attitude". London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who clashed with her predecessor Grant Shapps over Transport for London funding, said he was incredibly impressed" with her. Whether Ms Trevelyan's negotiating skills can lead to the strikes being called off is yet to be seen.