Sir Keir Starmer under new pressure to condemn strike misery after 160 Labour MPs stand on picket lines
SIR Keir Starmer is under new pressure to condemn strike misery — as it emerges 160 Labour MPs have stood on picket lines.
And while millions of commuters faced travel chaos yet again yesterday, Aslef rail union chief Mick Whelan warned the crippling strikes could go on for three years.
Most trains were cancelled across the country as thousands of Aslef and RMT members walked out over pay and conditions.
Mr Whelan revealed that despite Labour boss Sir Keir’s ban on his top team being seen on picket lines, plenty of backbenchers had joined strike protests.
He told reporters on a picket line in Euston, central London, he would welcome any Labour MPs with open arms.
He said: “What Keir said was that he wouldn’t have the Shadow Cabinet on picket lines.
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“We’ve had 160 Labour MPs across the country on our picket lines at different times, so they do come and support.
“I know most of them personally. They are friends and trade unionists.
“They are not anti what we are doing.”
Mr Whelan apologised to reporters for his late picket line arrival yesterday, joking he was delayed by “bloody rail strikes”.
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Tory MP Paul Bristow said: “The cat is out of the bag, union bosses calling shadow ministers friends and supporters.
“Labour MPs are putting union bosses before hard-working British families.”
PM Rishi Sunak accused Sir Keir of siding with “extremist protesters and union bosses” as they clashed over strikes last week.
Some services will start slightly later today after yesterday’s walkouts.
Labour declined to comment.
