So apparently, all journalist or folk likely to pass on restricted/highly confidential info. to the press, (seen when they looked over someone's shoulder,) will never be sat in first class That argument is just plain daft, no-one should be working on highly sensitive material in a public place, irrespective of which carriage they are sitting in.
That aside, this is an interesting one, today it is reported in the TimesOnLine that Ministers will still be able to claim for first class train travel, but not MPs. So why the exception for Ministers?
I'm not sure about this tbh, whilst I'm v much anti-elitism and class segregation it somehow doesn't seem right that our senior public servants should be in standard class, queueing up for an egg sarnie and a cuppa at the buffet car etc. it wouldn't happen in the private sector for folk at that level of seniority, so why in the public sector? I think part of the problem somehow is by retaining the terminology 'first class'  with all of its inherent connotations, rather than 'business class' which suggests that folk need appropriate conditions to work on their journey which is pretty much impossible in standard class

MPs to pay for their own daily commute, can claim for trips between London and constituencies and up to three return trips to EU institutions. They can claim for first-class rail travel only if it is cheaper than the price of an open standard ticket. That will ristrict MP's travel somewhat, unless they are prepared to pay for it themselves I suppose. Supes, I agree, why would anybody be mad enough to read sensitive material on a train.

Who was that MP recently who said he didn't like the 'sort of people' in standard class?

If they want first class, they should friggin well pay for it themselves. And if they want better security for their sensitive work, maybe they could also stop leaving laptops or unencrypted memory sticks on trains.

Dunno? Really, the 'sort of people' he is representing

Nicholas Winterton

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8521705.stm

Here's the fella.

gawd, if I could afford it, I'd travel 1st class on the train all the time

Phew, breathes v v big sigh of relief that it's a Tory- enough said!

to be fair though, he does have a point... albeit worded badly. 1st class tends to be business peeps working away on stuff on laptops, you have more space to put papers etc on the tables. Standard class tends to be busier and noisier, even if you wanted to work there isn't much space to put stuff and it can be too noisy to concentrate (ok, there is the quiet coach, but it can still be busy)

MPs should have to experience what the rest of us have to put up with on our overcrowded, badly run and extortionately expensive train service. Then they might be better placed to have an opinion on public transport policy.

The only time I ever saw my MP was in the 1st class compartment on the off-peak way to Kings X. Obviously an eye for a bargain.
It did amuse us  to see another MP who will remain anonymous pay a walk on single price of £260.

We were quite lucky on our line. If it didn't matter what time of day, or what day, one travelled then  there were some amazing bargains to be had. I haven't been down there for 18 months so I don't know what the score is now.

They had some brilliant offers - £55 1st class return... I think the cheapest is £102 now

Still, £30 standard class return... and I saw summat the other day that they have reduced it to £24

But what about Army Generals etc. which was the topic of this thread, (holds up hand for taking it off topic btw!) Should they travel 1st or Standard Class? Is this about segregation of the 'elite' and the hoi polloi or is it about practicalities of work? The Armed Forces clearly already have structures which very much segregate Officers and 'ordinary' soldiers for example, including for 'social' purposes in the Officer's Mess.

Not half as much as I bet it amused him when he reminded himself it was us mugs who'd really pay for it.

I think that they all have chauffeurs super.
I was just mekkin' me mouth go, me.

What happened to my first post?

I used to see Tony Benn on the train, swigging back his tea and chatting to his fellow passengers in a Second Class carriage.  Good old Wedgie!

Dunno Col, I didn't see any other than the two that are still here

If they do work in 1st Class, why don't they call it Working Class?

Maybe they'll have to actually start spending some of their wages now instead of claiming for EVERYTHING down to potato peelers& bath plugs etc....I just can't fathom what they were spending their earning on at all, they even claim for their SKY TV, a luxury alot of us cannot afford.

Maybe now they'll think twice about working on sensitive material on Public Transport, thus eliminating the possibility of them losing highly sensitive documents...