Rail chiefs give their bonuses to new safety improvements

 
David Higgins: said he and other directors would waive their bonuses

Network Rail bosses today bowed to pressure and agreed to give up bumper bonuses which were exposed by the Evening Standard.

Chief executive Sir David Higgins said he and other directors would waive their bonuses and donate the money to safety improvements.

It follows unprecedented political pressure, with Transport Secretary Justine Greening saying she was opposed to the awards.

It will pile pressure on Barclays chief executive Bob Diamond to follow suit and give up some of his bonus when it is announced this week.

He is expected to get a pay package worth over £10 million when the bank unveils profits of between £5.5 billion and £6 billion.

Tomorrow, Labour leader Ed Miliband will lead an Opposition Day debate against "the bonus culture" in the City in general.

Shadow transport secretary Maria Eagle claimed she had "discovered" that the Network Rail scheme could not be brought in without written approval from the minister. "Justine Greening must now decide if she is going to act to stop the taxpayer-funded Network Rail's bonus plan," she said.

The Department for Transport said the rules did not require the minister's approval of the details of the bonus scheme, only if there was a change to the policy of having bonuses or not.

Ms Greening had earlier said she would attend NR's AGM on Friday to vote against the bonuses.

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