Thomas The Tank Blamed.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2529783/Thomas-Tank-Engine-blamed-lack-female-train-drivers-engines-male-says-Labour-minister.html

And to think that this woman is the Shadow Transport Secretary, how do such persons manage to rise to these high positions?

What next a cry for more black characters?

Eh? just had a thought there are no women 'Fat Controllers' also is that another reason for women no attaining higher positions in the rail industry?

[jomifl]

Come to think of it I've never seen a female scaffolder, though I've seen several women that could easily qualify as such.

[pixie373]

Mushroom,my son was born in 1995, so probably about 1998 (it never occurred to me that they couldn't!)

[pixie373]

I know a female welder, but she is 6'2 and built like a brick er..house, so doesn't really challenge the stereotype.

[jomifl]

Ah.... those were the days....sigh.....

[jomifl]

Preferably with a bacon slicer.

[EDDIE51]

Yes she speaking 'out of her @rse ' the engines in Thomas the Tank do not have drivers male or female. They decide for themselves what to do.

[pixie373]

Eddie, she hasn't said anything about male or female drivers in it. She's talking about the "characters".

[jno]

as pixie says - that's the whole point, Eddie.

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

/// I like to view the source material myself and make up my own mind, not be told what to think by the Mail/Telegraph. ///

Well you won't get any guidance from the Guardian, since they seem to be the only newspaper who hasn't made a comment on this, I wonder why, unlike right wing newspapers they don't try and cover anything up, just because it happens to put their politics in a bad light.

Why don't you admit it, this is a crackpot idea coming from a leading member of a crackpot party.

Also notice that you have not made any comment on Professor Sauna Wilton.

[EDDIE51]

The Thomas books were written in the 1940s and reflect the situation at that time.

[Gromit]

Thank you for contacting me recently regarding the various media articles on my views of Thomas the Tank Engine.
 
All I can say is don’t believe everything you read in the press!
 
I gave an interview to the Telegraph in which Thomas was a light hearted example of cultural stereotypes around railways. Sadly, the example became the story.
 
I did not say Thomas needed more female engines or that it was sexist or any of the other wildly inaccurate comments that have been circulating on twitter and elsewhere.
 
It was certainly not the main reason I gave for the lack of women drivers. Sadly the rest of the interview in which I discussed Aslef’s excellent report on this issue which cited lack of facilities for women, flexible working and a lack of training and recruitment programmes was dropped. It clearly did not fit with the silly season story the Telegraph was determined to write.
 
It’s sad my words were so twisted by the media as I am sure you will agree the pay, conditions and gender of railway staff are as much a topic for serious political debate as ownership of the railways, rolling stock, engineering and franchising.
 
Thank you for taking the trouble to write to me on this issue.
 
Best wishes
 
MARY CREAGH MP
Labour Member of Parliament for Wakefield & Shadow Secretary of State for Transport