Liz Truss unveils 'draconian' new law to keep trains running during rail strikes

Crisis-hit PM begins fierce clash with unions in legal bid to stop transport services from shutting down during strikes - described as "desperate" and "impractical" by critics

New legislation will be tabled today to ensure "minimum levels of service" on trains and buses (

Image: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

The embattled Liz Truss starts a fierce showdown with unions with a legal bid to stop transit services from shutting down.

New legislation will be tabled today to ensure 'minimum levels of service' on railways and buses to avoid stoppages during industrial action.

The Prime Minister said the bill would prevent Britons from being 'held hostage by strike action', infuriating unions who are already launching the biggest wave of walkouts in more than a month a decade.

The legislation, which would take effect in 2023, would deprive unions of legal protections against damages if they fail to maintain adequate membership.

It comes as rail union RMT announced further pay walkouts at 14 rail companies next month, coinciding with separate industrial action at Network Rail, London Underground and London Overground.

RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch (

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PENNSYLVANIA)

Ms Truss said: 'Hard-working people and businesses should not be ransomed by strikes that have repeatedly crippled our transport network this year.

"This legislation delivers on our 2019 manifesto and will not only limit the ability of unions to cripple our economy, but will ensure that passengers across the country can rightly continue to travel to work, school or the hospital."

But RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch called the new legislation an "autocratic move by an increasingly despotic Prime Minister" and demanded the "fierce civil resistance".

He said: "This cynical legislation prohibits effective legal industrial action on our railways.

"This is an autocratic move by an increasingly despotic prime minister trying to hold on to his fledgling premiership.

"All Democrats, whether inside or outside parliament, must oppose this draconian...