Labour was in chaos over London Underground strikes yesterday after failing to condemn a second crippling walkout.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan was booed while attending a glitzy music awards ceremony, with one punk group publicly savaging him for not dealing with the crisis.
Critics questioned why the mayor was attending the event instead of holding talks to try to halt the industrial action. Meanwhile, party leader Sir Keir Starmer has chosen to remain silent on the issue.
And analysis of Labour MP Twitter accounts found at least 15 used their profiles to back the strikes, with several proudly posting pictures of themselves on picket lines.
Yesterday marked another day of commuter despair as the militant RMT union staged a second 24-hour walkout of Underground staff, bringing the capital to a near-total standstill again.
Key workers and hospital patients were caught up in the mayhem as passengers tried to board packed buses.
The strikes were held on Tuesday and yesterday, with the effects of the walkouts bleeding into Wednesday and today, stretching the chaos out over four days in all.
Underground staff are protesting over fears of staff cuts and changes to work conditions and pension schemes as Transport for London (TfL) looks to recover from the devastating impact the pandemic had on its finances.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan (left) was booed while attending a glitzy music awards ceremony, with one punk group publicly savaging him for not dealing with the crisis. Critics questioned why the mayor was attending the event instead of holding talks to try to halt the industrial action. Meanwhile, party leader Sir Keir Starmer has chosen to remain silent on the issue
The strikes were held on Tuesday and yesterday, with the effects of the walkouts bleeding into Wednesday and today, stretching the chaos out over four days in all
Party leader Sir Keir Starmer has chosen to remain silent on the issue. And analysis of Labour MP Twitter accounts found at least 15 used their profiles to back the strikes, with several proudly posting pictures of themselves on picket lines
Ministers and MPs led an angry backlash, pointing out that those on lower incomes would be hit the hardest by the strikes. And Mr Khan was booed on stage as he presented a gong at the NME Awards at the O2 Academy Brixton in south London on Wednesday night.
He was seen rubbing shoulders with celebrities such as YouTuber Amelia Dimoldenberg at the do.
But he was also rounded on by those frustrated with the strikes.
Punk-grime duo Bob Vylan, who were there to present the award for Best Festival in the UK, said: ‘Sadiq you need to sort these trains out. Do you understand?
‘You have to keep this city moving bro because people need to get to work, you understand? Come on, we’ve got to do better.’
Tory MP Greg Smith, who sits on the Commons transport committee, said: ‘It’s wholly unacceptable for people’s daily lives, their income, their livelihoods to be disrupted in this horrendous way.
‘It’s literally taking food off people’s tables. People who were stuck in the rain on Tuesday and who couldn’t get about today will be raising many an eyebrow as they see the Labour mayor was swanning around at a glitzy event with celebrities rather than hammering it out with the RMT to end this nonsense.’
Speaking in the Commons, fellow Conservative Bob Blackman said: ‘The trade unions, for the second day this week, have brought London literally to a halt. At this time of course, there is one person that’s completely silent about that – the do-nothing Mayor of London.’
Commons Leader Mark Spencer branded Mr Khan’s record ‘absolutely appalling’. Conservatives also condemned figures showing the RMT has given Labour and its MPs hundreds of thousands of pounds in recent years, sparking accusations that union barons had ‘bought the party’s silence.’
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: ‘For the second time this week, TfL Tube strikes have brought London to a standstill. Given the Government has provided almost £5billion to protect services and TfL jobs throughout the pandemic, this is no way to repay hard-pressed taxpayers who are simply trying to get to work and home.’
Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said: ‘Through multiple donations the RMT has bought the Labour Party’s silence on an issue that’s crippling the capital and damaging our economy at a crucial time.’
A spokesman for Mr Khan defended his attendance at the awards, saying the mayor ‘will always support the capital’s creative industries as it continues to recover from the pandemic.’ A Labour spokesman said: ‘Transport for London’s finances have been decimated during the pandemic. Sadiq Khan has been working hard to get it back on track, while Conservative ministers continue to play politics with TfL’s finances.’
RMT chief Mick Lynch said: ‘Our members across London Underground are making it crystal clear again this morning that they are not going to be used as pawns in a political fight between the mayor and the Government which threatens their futures and their livelihoods.’