Fuel’s errand

IF you’re driving home for Christmas, Government Minister Mark Spencer has some festive advice: shop around for the cheapest petrol.

Well, thanks for nothing. Hard-pressed motorists know to do this already.

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The issue — as the minister ought to know — is that so few forecourts are passing on the reductions in the wholesale price of fuel, that it costs a fortune driving around just to find one.

Around 34million car journeys are expected to be made today and tomorrow, thanks in part to the rail chaos inflicted by the hardline unions.

And motorists face their most expensive getaway ever.

Analysis by the RAC suggests petrol should be 15p a litre cheaper than it is, on average.

But, as usual, pump prices that went up like a rocket when wholesale prices rose, are coming down like a feather.

Instead of stating the bleeding obvious, Mr Spencer and his government colleagues should bring in an independent PumpWatch regulator — and finally end this rip-off.

Track ’n ruin

IF things were not bad enough for strike-hit rail travellers, their already expensive train fares are to go up by nearly six per cent in March.

True, it could have been worse.

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The Government has at least capped the increase at below the current rate of inflation and delayed it by a couple of months.

But ministers insist the still-punishing rise is needed for the financial stability of the railways, so it will go ahead regardless of the appalling service currently on offer.

And that’s after the £31BILLION thrown at the industry to keep it afloat — and rail workers in jobs — through the Covid pandemic.

Might this latest round of punishment being handed to travellers make the unions think again about their unrealistic pay demands?

And their refusal to change outdated practices which are holding the railways back?

Or will they continue to behave like the public is there to serve them — and not the other way around?

Precious time

THIS Christmas, spare a thought for six-year-old Georgia Kirchin, and her parents and big sister.

Georgia is living “day by day” with a life-threatening health condition.

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And time is running out to help her.

Mum Jodie says: “Georgia just wants to have a new heart so she can have a normal life and play with her friends.”

It rather puts other worries into perspective.