Lord Adonis, the UK's Infrastructure Tsar, resigns over Government's Hard-Brexit stance

The transcript discusses the criticism of the government's handling of the East Coast Rail franchise, focusing on the decision to allow Stagecoach and Virgin to end their contract early, which some view as a taxpayer bailout. The government denies this, stating that financial commitments will be met. The opposition argues that the current franchising system is flawed and ideologically driven to avoid public ownership. The issue is expected to be scrutinized by the Public Affairs Committee.

What implications does the text suggest the government's actions may have for taxpayers?

What does the text suggest about the relationship between private operators and the government in the context of the rail franchise?