MBDA’s Alabama factory makes components for Boeing’s GBU-39 bombs used to kill civilians in Gaza. Its profits flow through Stevenage to Paris — and it is one of the British government’s favourite firms, reveals SOLOMON HUGHES

THERE are some weird people around. Well, people with weird ideas. Take James Price of the extreme right-wing think tank the Taxpayers’ Alliance.
When the Labour Party called for a freeze in fares last month to help hard-pressed families, he said, quite frankly and quite brutally, that, as a hard-nosed free marketeer, he thinks it is absolutely right to try to price people off trains.
“It would be wrong to announce any kind of rail fares freeze, as it would hurt rail users, as well as taxpayers, who subsidise rail in the UK whether or not they use trains.

As the labour movement meets to remember the Tolpuddle Martyrs, MICK WHELAN, general secretary of train drivers’ union Aslef, says it’s an appropriate moment to remind the Labour government to listen to the trade unions a little more


