THE new general secretary of the RMT Mick Cash has condemned Labour plans to allow public sector bids for passenger rail franchises as 'a mad idea'.
It also seems that he may be gaining the grudging respect of some right wing politicians.
He was confirmed as the successor to Bob Crow as the union's leader last month, and has now raised the idea of creating a new political party because of his increasing disillusionment with Labour and its rail policies.
The RMT was expelled from the Labour Party ten years ago, and there had been speculation that the choice of 'moderate' Mick Cash as general secretary might have started a process of reconciliation.
However, he no longer believes that Labour is in touch with the country, as it has succumbed to a whirl of special advisors and other political professionals.
In an interview with the Independent, Mick Cash said: "If you see what’s happening to the Labour Party recently just on rail nationalisation – the Tories have renationalised the track; we called for the Labour Party to renationalise the train operating companies and what not, and all they have turned round and said is that they’ll just allow public-sector bids.
“That’s mad, a mad idea. They’re doing it because they said they don’t want to upset business. That’s a good working-class party, isn’t it, that doesn’t want to upset business?"
Whether a new left-wing party is set to emerge will depend to some extent on the outcome of the general election in May.
He explained: "Depending on what happens next year, if one or two large trade unions start to say we need an alternative, they have the organisation and the financial clout to start developing a political party that could have its roots back in the working class.
“When you seek to create an alternative political force, it’s not just about having money, it’s also about having an organisational structure and about having a good set of policies and getting stuck in on the ground – having local parties, and councillors, and stuff like that.
“You would need patience from those who believe there should be an alternative. It’s not an easy option, but its do-able. Look at UKIP. They’ve somehow managed to get in that position.”
The Independent also quotes a 'prominent Tory' who reacted to Mick Cash by saying: "Although Bob Crow fought very hard for his members, he was also an asset to us because he was a threatening figure. We could tell people to stick with us or this is what you get.
"Cash will say and do the same things, but he will sound much more reasonable, which could make him more dangerous."