Brighton Pavilion Green MP Caroline Lucas (pictured) recently called for the re-nationalisation of the railways when their current franchises come up for renewal.

She failed to declare that she is funded by the RMT union like a few left wing labour M Ps who no doubt also support her campaign. (Source: The late Bob Crowe on the BBC Sunday Politics show) Whilst the current franchised rail system is far from perfect, I am old enough to remember when the then British Railways were running the railways which was very heavily subsidised by the taxpayer.

The trains were filthy and punctuality was a joke and further more the country was frequently held to ransom by threats of and actual national rail strikes.

If history teaches us anything it is that Government run national institutions do not make for efficient use of taxpayers’ money.

Patrick JD Ward, Address withheld