Off the Record

The launch of a new ticket scheme wasn’t completely derailed this week but its timing was not exactly auspicious. The PR plan went off track and saw railways minister Paul Maynard having to fend off some aggressive media questions about what the government was doing to resolve the dispute with Southern railways. The minister took it in his stride and gamely submitted himself to a round of hostile media interviews but you could sense the frustration of the spin doctors and press officers that the reason for the event was getting overlooked.

Still on Southern, transport secretary Chris Grayling also found himself in a pincer movement in the House of Commons.

An unusual alliance of Kent Conservative MPs, the Green Party and Labour subjected Mr Grayling to a relentless series of questions about how the government was resolving the dispute. Among those expressing concern was the North Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale, whose constituency doesn’t go anywhere near the area covered by Southern.

Ukip has been enduring a turbulent time since Brexit but there is no shortage of optimism Thanet council leader Chris Wells.

He is standing in next year’s county council election and is buoyant about his prospects. He says he is looking forward to taking the Conservatives to task at County Hall. “Bring it on,” he told us