I don’t think so, but that’s what his department wants me to think.

I put in a Freedom of Information request to the Department for Transport some time ago asking for Meetings and correspondence between Christopher Mole and National Express. They’ve claimed that there were no meetings between Chris Mole (Minister for Railways) and National Express (holders of three rail franchises.

Chris Mole was the Minister for Transport with special responsibility for railways and National Express operates three rail franchises. It is inconceivable that during his time as a minister that he would not have met the management of one of the largest rail operators in the country.

Of course this is nonsense, and I’ve asked for an internal review.

Otherwise what on earth does Chris Mole do with his time? He’s certainly not busy representing Ipswich.

I know I’m getting obsessed with this, but the cosy sweetheart deals between Labour politicians has harmed Ipswich and it’s harming the country. So here are two freedom of Information requests that I’ve lodged:

1. Meetings and correspondence between Christopher Mole and National Express
2. Correspondence or meetings between the Department for Transport and Rt Hon Stephen Byers MP

There’s been some scepticism in my comments section that Chris Mole, as railways minister would ever be consulted on the East Coast franchise. Here are my reasons as to why he must have known something or else been totally ineffective:

1. They know each other from when Chris Mole was Labour leader of Suffolk County Council and Steve Byers was environment secretary.
2. Chris Mole deals with the trains
3. They are both in the House of Commons
4. Chris Mole has a constituency interest in National Express franchises, there’s little chance that Adonis would bypass him on this operator
5. Chris Mole is a Brownite to the Blairite Adonis, there’s no way that a recently moved Adonis would seek such a rift so soon

I wonder what the Ipswich press are doing about the local angle to a national scandal? Nothing yet, which means it’s got to be left to the blogs.

So Stephen Byers admits to trying to influence the Transport Ministers on behalf of National Express and their rail operations. However Chris Mole is not mentioned once, despite being the minister in charge of Railways.

What explains the absence?