Really really shocked that an open rtn with Avanti West Coast from Telford to Euston is now £218. Even by booking in advance on very early & late trains the price is £128, with little ability to use different trains if plans change. Just terrible.

It’s Friday it’s Reading.

Thanks Jess Phillips for your time today, talking about Fuel Bank Foundation and the need for timely, meaningful support for those who are struggling to keep warm. Over 950k people helped so far. This can’t be right.

Just check that you have had what you were due. ⁦Fuel Bank Foundation⁩ … Households on prepayment meters risk missing £130m of energy bills support theguardian.com/money/2023/may…

Tomorrow, June 30th, is the last day to claim & cash any Energy Bill Support Scheme vouchers before the £££ goes back to the Treasury. Join me on LBC News at 7:50 with Lisa Aziz, talking about Fuel Bank Foundation and what to do to before the deadline.

Yikes Avanti West Coast ... I know it's a first world problem and all, but it seems that we have gone back to the olden days in Shropshire today. Your seat reservation system is broken on this train. And the onboard shop is cash only. Oh and the wifi has broken too.

An example of why our railway ticketing system is broken... cheapest ticket on the 05:38 Avanti train from Stafford to Edinburgh on 28th Sept is £17.20 on trainline. And £100.50 on the Avanti West Coast app. That's a whopping difference. RMT

Highlight so far for my son on a college trip to Manchester to #ToryConference is that he was kind of interviewed by Jon Sopel of The News Agents fame.

At midnight I drove along the Severn to Bridgnorth & there was a strong sewage smell from the water. Severn Trent say there are no sewage works nearby & Environment Agency say I can’t report it because I smelt it not saw it. Because it’s not reported it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.