Network Rail urged to scrap £20m bonus package

Ministers have heaped pressure on Network Rail to reject a £20 million bonus package for six senior executives in the latest row over excessive rewards for state employees. Justine Greening, the Transport Secretary, will take the unprecedented step of attending the company’s annual general meeting this week to oppose the plans, which include a £340,000 bonus for Sir David Higgins, the chief executive. The development comes a week after Stephen Hester, the chief executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland, which is 83 per cent state-owned, waived a bonus of almost £1 million after a public backlash. Network Rail refused to be drawn last night on whether Sir David would follow his example, saying that no decision had been made. But industry sources accused ministers of using the company as a “political football”. Labour said that Ms Greening could have gone farther and blocked the payment. The Transport Secretary said that her vote — one of 78 — could not stop the proposal. But she hoped that the “very clear signal” of ministerial disapproval would shame other Network Rail members into following suit. It is the first time in the company’s ten-year history that the Government has intervened in its affairs. “I’m going to the meeting next Friday,” Ms Greening said. “I’m going to vote against them. I don’t think this is the right time to have those sorts of decisions taken.” The package would entitle the company’s six executive d

  • The official Diamond Jubilee portrait of Queen Elizabeth II photographed in the Centre Room of Buckingham Palace, overlooking The Victoria Memorial Statue
    The official Diamond Jubilee portrait of Queen Elizabeth II John Swannell
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  • Queen Elizabeth II is handed flowers as she leaves the Sunday Service at West Newton Church
    Queen Elizabeth II is handed flowers as she leaves the Sunday Service Chris Jackson/Getty Images
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  • Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II (L) and The Duke of Edinburgh leave a church service at St Peters and St Paul in West Newton,
    The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh leave the church Ben Stansall
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  • They braved snow and a chilly wind Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images
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  • The Queen and Prince Philip were cheered by the crowd Chris Jackson/Getty Images
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  • Queen Elizabeth II smiles as she leaves the Sunday Service at West Newton Church
    A child handed the Queen a packet of Werther's Originals Chris Jackson/Getty Images
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  • Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh arrive at for a church service at St Peters and St Paul in West Newton, Norfolk
    She gave them to the Duke, saying: "I think these are for you" Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images
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‘I dedicate myself anew to your service’


AA backs 20mph limit in boost for cyclist safety

The AA is throwing its weight behind calls to extend 20mph speed limits as a key step to improving safety for cyclists and other road users. Making 20mph the default speed limit in residential areas where there are no cycle lanes is an essential component of The Times’s eight-point manifesto for making “Cities fit for Cycling”. And the campaign to improve city streets gathered momentum yesterday when Julian Huppert, MP, chairman of the all-party cycling group, announced that he would table an early day motion in the House of Commons today in favour the campaign. The number of written pledges of support rose above 18,000 last night. The television sports presenter Mark Bright became the latest celebrity to endorse the campaign. Along with the double Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell, he encouraged his followers on Twitter to sign up. Edmund King, Pr

February 6 2012 12:01AM

Assad pressured by West and Arabs

Western and Arab leaders are to step up the diplomatic offensive against the Assad regime after the failure of a UN resolution calling for the removal of the Syrian President. As more than 20 people were reported to have been shot dead by government forces in Homs yesterday, Western leaders began looking for ways of exerting leverage on the regime outside the confines of the UN, where action was blocked by Russian and Chinese vetos. Now the plan, together with Arab sympathisers, is to set up a body similar to the Contact Group in the Libyan conflict, which was used to channel international aid to the insurgents. “Faced with a neuterered Security Council we have to redouble our efforts outside the UN with those allies and partners who support the Syrian people’s rights to have a better future,” said Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State. The con

February 6 2012 12:01AM

Leading Articles

The Times
  • Moral Blindness

    Russia and China acted for self-serving motives in vetoing the Security Council’s condemnation of the bloodshed in Syria

  • Sixty Years of Service

    Today marks the start of the jubilee celebrations of the Queen’s extraordinary reign

  • Safety at 20mph

    The AA supports the Times campaign to cut speeds to save cyclists’ lives

Flaw in Olympic Games security checks

European Union citizens from outside Britain can work as security guards at the London Olympics without undergoing UK checking procedures


Fury over ‘nonsense’ plan for bishops

The Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin accused Rowan Williams and John Sentamu of helping to perpetuate ‘childish’ behaviour by opponents of women’s ordination

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Raising money for creative companies: alternative solutions for the small tech firm seeking a loan

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Chris Packham takes a look at the country’s beautiful wildlife

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The regeneration of Liverpool and the power of technology

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CR Smith Veteran Gerard Eadie still seeks windows of opportunity plus: is Devo Plus the best way forward?

Tesco defiant after delaying strike against the big banks

Benny Higgins, chief executive of Tesco Bank, says the delayed launch will enable it to focus on getting the product ‘absolutely right’


Hong Kong bidder says it can avoid chaos on Thameslink

Hong Kong railway company MTR says bringing in its own engineers from the Far East will help to avoid chaos at London Bridge

Boards fall behind in the drive to appoint women

The target of having 25 per cent of FTSE 100 directorships held by women will be met two years late, in 2017, warn recruiters


Can the high street afford bigger sales?

Prices fell by far more than is traditional, suggesting that increasingly canny customers are holding out for clearance sales

Giants beat Patriots to win the Super Bowl

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning

Lightning struck twice as the NY Giants again denied the NE Patriots a fourth Super Bowl title in Indianapolis*last storyspot*

Capello raises stakes over Terry decision

The England manager broke rank with the FA by publicly declaring that defender should not have been stripped of the England captaincy


Azhar ensures mountainous task for England

Dubai International Stadium (third day of five): England, with all second-innings wickets in hand, need 288 runs to beat Pakistan

Rattled Gingrich turns on his rival

Newt Gingrich displayed his frayed nerves and undermined his presidential credentials, branding his main Republican rival a liar


Japan’s ailing Emperor, 78, vows to carry on

Concern is growing about the health of Emperor Akihito of Japan. Courtiers say he is endangering his wellbeing with too heavy a workload

Saudi women go to court over driving fatwa

Women in Saudi Arabia are stepping up their campaign for equality with a legal challenge to the ban on female drivers


Egypt’s generals face fresh calls to go

Clashes between protesters and police entered their fourth day yesterday as pressure mounted on the Egyptian junta to hand over power

Tyne Daly on the legend of Maria Callas

Tyne Daly who is playing Maria Callas.

A final episode in the tempestuous life of Maria Callas is being recreated on the West End stage

Kaiser Chiefs

The effect was rather like having a succession of over-eager Yorkshire terriers humping your leg all evening


Weekend TV: Vampires playing for high stakes

Andrew Billen says the fourth season opener of Being Human suffered from getting too complicated with its plot