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Arch villain
SOLOMON HUGHES reveals how Chris Grayling did over small businesses under railway arches to benefit two big finance groups for short-term gain
Arch villain

CHRIS GRAYLING sold off over 5,000 railway arches worth around £1.4 billion to big investors, without caring that all the small businesses renting the premises face being squeezed by big rent rises from their new owners. 

Grayling’s plan gave the Treasury a big injection of cash in the short term, but it only looks like a good deal in the longer term on fiddled figures. 

What the deal shows is that the Tories are the party of big finance. But they are also the party of screw the small businesses and of grab the short-term cash. They are also the party of jobs-for-the-boys, as senior Tories worked for both firms who bought the arches.

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