Train strikes - live: Lynch asks government to ‘tone down rhetoric’ and ‘settle dispute’

Welcome to The Independent’s live blog on the aftermath of the biggest rail strike in more than three decades in the UK.

Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union general secretary Mick Lynch has asked Grant Shapps to “tone down the rhetoric and get on with his job” to settle the ongoing dispute.

“So if Grant Shapps wants to be constructive that’s what he can do. He needs to tone down the rhetoric and get on with his job, which is to settle this dispute,” the union boss said on Saturday.

Earlier, the transport secretary had accused the union of “damaging people’s lives” after thousands of commuters were affected by three days of industrial action last week.

Brandon Lewis has been criticised for referring to train drivers’ salaries while discussing the RMT rail strike - just a day after prime minister Boris Johnson did the same thing.

The Northern Ireland secretary appeared on Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme where he said train drivers were earning between £56,000 and £70,000.

He added that the dispute - which prompted industrial action on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday - is an “issue between the employer and unions” and that people want to see a resolution.

Joe Middleton reports.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the rail strikes were “entirely of the UK government’s making”.

“It is important to give solidarity to striking workers at picket lines and it is important to recognise that this is a crisis entirely of the UK government’s making,” Mr Sarwar told Channel 4.

“The workers don’t want to strike, the unions don’t want to strike, the public doesn’t want the strike, and all of them demand better of this government. And I think Grant Shapps needs to stop playing the political games, stop the culture war here, get around the table and get a deal (sic).”

Labour MP Nadia Whittome has donated £2,000 to the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union’s strike fund.

“These rail workers are leading the way for all workers. They’re the ones who need a pay rise, not MPs,” Ms Whittome said.

Christmas presents could be affected by the series of rail strikes due to disruption of the supply chain, months before the festive season.

According to reports, over 600 freight trains run in the UK every day, carrying goods such as TVs, clothes and decorations.

“As the year goes on, freight gets busier, particularly containers, so that’s a big worry. The China surge will come in – and those ships are sailing now. It always gets busier into August, particularly when we start seeing Christmas stuff come through,” an industry figure was quoted by The Mirror as saying.

A senior Labour figure has toughened the party’s stance ahead of a “summer of discontent” over falling pay by saying he does not “support strikes” – triggering a backlash.

David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, said he “categorically” does not support a walkout by BA check-in staff, dismissing their call for a 10 per cent pay increase.

Calling it “very sad when any union calls its members out”, Mr Lammy also said: “I don’t support strikes,” before adding: “I support the right to strike of course.”

Rob Merrick has more.

The general secretary of the RMT union has been taking on, and vanquishing, all comers – politicians and journalists alike. Now he has become a thorn in Boris Johnson’s side, writes Sean O’Grady.

Travel across the UK was disrupted for much of last week as the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union launched the biggest strike to hit the British rail network in 30 years.

But what is the reason for the disruption, and why are train workers striking?

Here’s everything we know so far.

Mick Lynch, the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union boss, has not ruled out the possibility of future rail strikes if talks with the government fail.

The union boss told BBC that talks would continue and he would consult members to see “if and when there needs to be a new phase of industrial action”.

“But if we don’t get a settlement, it’s extremely likely there will be,” he said.