So let me get this right. Whippet cancel the X3 (a proper N&P job). This Charlie character goes on a campaign about Franchising and rural services while appearing to say Stagecoach would squeeze them out of Papworth (where they don't operate anyway). In the meantime the council ask another operator to run a commercial replacement which they accept (according to local media) and then good old Charlie says the X3 might be saved. Then 10k magically finds its way to Whippets.
I can only conclude the only company playing with people's lives is Whippets