Tom Richmond: A bit of snow, and service goes off the rails

I'm even more perplexed, after a misery-filled return trip from Leeds to London on the nationalised East Coast service.

The journey to the capital did not get off to a good start – passengers were turfed off the train minutes before departure because the powers- that-be cancelled the service at the last minute.

Not even the driver knew until he heard the announcement over the public address system. Brilliant. And this was on the day before the snows came.

As travellers waited in the perishing cold, not one person from East Coast bothered to offer any explanation – the only individual who had some insight was the cleaner who knew exactly when the next train would leave, and who helped some pensioners find a seat in the warmth.

Likewise, the return train from King's Cross three days later was another unexplained cancellation, and the alternative – a trip to York and then a journey back to Leeds – took the best part of four hours.

When a ticket inspector was asked for details of connecting trains, he said that this was not part of his remit. So much for customer service.

Yes, there had been an inch or two of snow, but this was no excuse for a refreshment service that was, at best, mediocre, and the blocked sinks in flooded toilets which, according to a staff member, had been unrepaired for nine hours.

Like most passengers, I accept there will be delays on the railways. What I do not understand is the complete absence of clear communication – this is the greatest failing of East Coast and others.

I have three points to make. First, given the Tory criticism of the railways during the big freeze earlier this year, why has the Government not done more to persuade the train operators to raise their game? It wasn't this bad under Labour, was it?

Second, why do services on the Continent continue to run like clockwork during bad weather? A Paris businessman travelling up to Leeds told me: "People would be sacked for such bad service in France." When was a senior rail executive last held to account for the misery that their poor service causes?

And, finally, who approved East Coast's decision to cancel Leeds and Wakefield trains at the first sign of trouble, rather than other services on the route? A conductor said this is a conscious decision to minimise disruption elsewhere.

Try justifying that to travellers in Leeds, a city that is home to countless government organisations, and which is now regarded as a third class business centre by the country's nationalised rail operator.

It's just led me to conclude that East Coast's helpful cleaner, a woman of considerable maturity, should be given a deserved promotion. At least she knows the meaning of good service. No one else appears to do so.

LABOUR leader Ed Miliband, and his home affairs spokesman Ed Balls, like to portray themselves as decisive leaders. If only this was so.

For, judging by the diaries of former Lib Dem minister David Laws who was at the heart of the coalition negotiations, both Yorkshire MPs were virtually incapable of taking a decision.

When Laws pressured Labour to back the Lib Dems' 2.5bn pupil premium, Balls said that "we would need to speak to Alistair Darling (the then Chancellor) to get him to agree". Miliband suggested a detailed policy paper, according to the book 22 Days in May.

And when it came to raising the tax threshold to 10,000 for the low-paid, Miliband was equally obtuse: "This is an issue of credibility, not desirability. It is a feasibility issue."

Harriet Harman, Labour's deputy leader, then butted in: "We really need to have the Chancellor at these discussions." "Yes, you're right," added Balls.

Given how Miliband aspires to be First Lord of the Treasury as Prime Minister, and that Balls remains Labour's unofficial Chancellor, it seems odd that both were so passive in these negotiations.

Unless, that is, they realised the scale of the public sector deficit and that a stint in opposition would be preferable to clearing up the mess created by their party.

TALKING of Ed Miliband, he needs to get a grip of his party – and nail the belief that he's a ditherer – before the Doncaster MP suffers the same fate as one-time Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith.

Miliband is in trouble, just two months into his leadership. Supporters of his brother, David, are making mischief, and are not afraid to tell the media about their concerns.

He's right to review Labour's policies; the problem is that he did not announce this on day one of his leadership. And, just as David Cameron could not define the "big society" in the election, Miliband – judging by his interviews – is unsure about who constitutes the "squeezed middle".

There is one reason for this. Miliband is falling into the trap of trying to please all – rather than coming up with some specific policies that can be easily defined. That's why he needs some big ideas sooner rather than later – or he may find that Labour turns on him before his policy review process is complete.

GIVEN America's disgraceful disrespect for our Armed Forces, and Barack Obama's disdain for David Cameron according to the revelations on the WikiLeaks website, there is a very simple solution.

The Government should simply ensure that the President and his wife are not invited to next April's Royal Wedding. That should be sufficient to dent the Obama ego.