End the strikes

The rail strikes are utterly wrong.

And if, like me, you've been struggling to Waterloo on strike days, you'll be fed up with it all - even more than usual.

The railways were in a bad enough state already, thanks to fragmentation by Conservative privatisation and then five years' inaction by Labour.

These strikes only damage the industry more. Strikes seldom serve any constructive purpose. These are just plain destructive.

Having read too much about both sides, it's clear to me some extreme left wing union officials in the RMT are using the staff for their own political ends. So, instead of striking, union members should rebel against their union bosses and ensure these strikes end.

Then people can focus on re-building Britain's railways.

People are rightly saying, is a decent train service that much to ask for in 2002?

It's not good enough for Labour ministers to blame Tory privatisation or companies like SWT (though they've hardly covered themselves in glory).

Liberal Democrats have long argued for a new policy. In February last year, our spokesman, Don Foster, set out our manifesto plans, pledging to "reduce the number of franchise holders" and "encourage major train operators to take over responsibility for maintenance of the track they use".

To ensure extra investment works, you need a rational rail structure. Arguing now about public or private misses the point.

So, unions, end the strikes. Government, get competent.