Burnham faces far-Left revolt over rail plans

Andy Burnham is facing a potential revolt from Labour’s hard-Left over the party’s railways policies. The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) has prepared to declare war on the Government over ongoing attempts to open a £7bn rail line to the public. Hard-Left MPs will be told to oppose government-backed plans that would result in trains on the controversial East West Rail (EWR) line running without guards controlling the doors. It means the first challenge to the new Prime Minister’s authority will come from the Left of Labour, despite the former Manchester mayor appointing a slew of Left-wing figures to key political and ministerial appointments. Eddie Dempsey , the RMT’s general secretary, said in a memo seen by The Telegraph that the RMT would be asking its parliamentary group of MPs to forward an early day motion (EDM) in the Commons to oppose plans to let train drivers instead of guards control the doors on EWR.