Rail Minister Claire Perry today quit just two days after she admitted feeling “ashamed” by the shoddy conditions for passengers using London Bridge.
She threw in the towel after months fending off demands for Govia Thameslink Railway to be stripped of its franchise. The Department of Transport said: “We can confirm that Claire Perry has resigned as Rail Minister.”
She issued no resignation letter and it was not clear whether Ms Perry - who was thought unlikely to survive the Government reshuffle - jumped before being pushed or felt her position was no longer tenable.
On Wednesday the former minister told a Commons debate she sometimes thought about “falling on my sword” over the number of cancellations and delays for passengers using Southern Rail services.
She told MPs: “I have been to London Bridge many times and I am often ashamed to be the Rail Minister.”
“If I thought it would help by falling on my sword, I would. This feels like a failure.”
Passengers reacted with grim satisfaction. Tory councillor James Butcher, vice chair of Adur District Council, tweeted: “I liked Claire Perry as a person, but as Rail Minister she did sweet FA to tackle #SouthernFail it is therefore right that she is gone.”
Southern’s owners, GTR, say services have been hit by crew availability and high levels of staff sickness. It has also been hit by walkouts by the RMT union in a dispute over guards’ responsibilities.
