Business 26 March 2013updated 22 Oct 2020 3:55pm “This is an act of political spite to reward their friends in the City” Business quote of the day. By Helen Roxburgh “This is an act of political spite to reward their friends in the City” Manuel Cortes, leader of the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association rail union, attacks the decision to open bidding for the East Coast rail franchise to private companies. Subscribe to the Saturday Read View all newsletters Your new guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture each weekend – from the New Statesman. Sign up here Select and enter your email address The Saturday Read Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com Morning Call The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com Your email address First Name Last Name Sign up Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. THANK YOU Close Content from our partners The UK’s skills shortfall is undermining growth Graham Hasting-Evans The quest for seamless travel: A new standard in the digital era Spotlight What kind of tax reforms would stimulate growth? Arun Advani Related Politics The Conservative Party’s empty quest for normality Books The wrongness of Boris Johnson Politics Labour’s carbon-capture pipedream