Labour MPs defy Starmer again by joining striking rail workers as Corbyn shows up sporting black eye

18 August 2022, 11:06 | Updated: 18 August 2022, 12:13

Jeremy Corbyn joined striking rail workers on a picket line at Euston this morning
Jeremy Corbyn joined striking rail workers on a picket line at Euston this morning. Picture: Alamy

By Asher McShane

Labour MPs defied Keir Starmer’s warning to distance themselves from rail strikes as they joined picket lines in support of striking rail workers this morning.

Rebecca Long Bailey appeared this morning alongside members of the RMT and TSSA in Manchester.

Jeremy Corbyn, now an independent, was on a picket line alongside Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana.

Mr Corbyn was sporting a split lip and black eye after tripping over a tree root while out jogging.

Appearing at a picket line outside Euston Station, the former Labour leader said: "I was out running in Finsbury Park and unfortunately a tree root had protruded over the path.

Read more: Rail misery as thousands of workers strike again in row over pay, jobs and conditions

Read more: Biggest ever drop in top A-level grades as Covid generation battles for university places

Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana also appeared at the picket line this morning
Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana also appeared at the picket line this morning. Picture: Alamy

"Me and the tree root collided and I collided with the ground afterwards. There was nobody else involved - totally me on my own - but I love running anyway."

Asked if he would keep up with his running, the independent MP said: "Of course."

The former Labour leader criticised Sir Keir Starmer's sacking of a shadow transport minister for giving interviews from a picket line last month.

Mr Corbyn said Sam Tarry's treatment was "very unfair".

"Sam is a trade union person like me, he used to work for the TSSA, he went on a picket line to support his union and his members.

"I think to dismiss him from his shadow position was very unfair."

He told Mr Tarry after his sacking that he was "very sorry because he was doing a very good job, he was trying to develop a... much better national transport strategy".

Rail, Tube and bus passengers faced fresh travel misery from Thursday as tens of thousands of workers went on strike in long-running disputes over pay, jobs and conditions.

Network Rail, train companies, London Underground and buses in the capital will be hit by walkouts in the next few days, causing travel chaos for workers, holidaymakers and fans going to events, including a cricket Test match at Lords.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) and Unite will be involved in the industrial action, after ongoing talks failed to break the deadlocked rows.

Strikes will affect services until the weekend.

On Thursday, RMT members at Network Rail (NR) and 14 train operators, TSSA members at seven companies, and Unite members at NR will strike.

This will have a knock-on effect on rail services on Friday morning.

Also on Friday, members of the RMT and Unite on London Underground will walk out, as well as Unite members on London United bus routes in the capital in a separate dispute over pay.

On Saturday, RMT members at Network Rail and 14 train operators, TSSA members at seven companies, and Unite members at NR will strike again, along with London United bus drivers.

Sunday morning train services will be affected by the knock-on effect of Saturday's action.

Rail services on Thursday and Saturday will be drastically reduced, with only around a fifth running, and half of lines closed.

Trains will only operate between 7.30am and 6.30pm on both strike days.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

A teacher who was knocked down by a group of kids playing playground game British Bulldog says she was left with a severe leg injury that left her out of work for months.

Summer camp teacher claiming £300k in damages after group of kids knock her down in famous playground game

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in Saudi Arabia for peace talks with Russia as the war in Ukraine rages on.

US-Russia peace talks for Ukraine begin as Europe blocked out of Saudi Arabia meeting

Harry received a standing ovation at the closing ceremony.

Meghan's four-word response as Prince Harry receives standing ovation in emotional Invictus Games closing ceremony

Exclusive
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer (far right) visits the Tapa NATO forward operating base in Estonia.

Starmer should send 'warships, combat brigade, and air squadrons' to Ukraine, says ex-armed forces minister

Millions of jobs at risk as UK firms mull biggest layoffs in close to a decade amid plunging business confidence

Millions of jobs at risk as UK firms mull 'biggest layoffs in a decade' amid plunging business confidence

Wes Streeting says campaign to free Lucy Letby is 'not right'

'This isn't a political campaign, it's a legal process': Wes Streeting says campaign to free Lucy Letby is 'not right'

Exclusive
West Streeting, left, has back Sir Keir Starmer after the Prime Minister said he was ready to put British troops on the ground in Ukraine.

Peace in Ukraine 'vital for Britain's freedom', says Streeting as he backs PM's calls for troops on the ground

From Conclave to The Brutalist - the full 2025 BAFTA's winners list revealed

From Conclave to The Brutalist - the full 2025 BAFTA's winners list revealed

President Zelenskyy of Ukraine has arrived in the United Arab Emirates ahead of this week's expected peace talks aimed at ending his country's war with Russia.

Zelenskyy visits UAE as Starmer signals support for British troop deployment in Ukraine peacekeeping

Emergency services were called just after 7pm on Friday amid reports a woman had suffered serious injuries

'I thought it was fireworks': Pub landlady describes moments before fatal Valentine's Day car park shooting

Danielle McLaughlin's killer Baghat was finally found guilty today

Man sentenced to life in prison over rape and murder of Irish backpacker Danielle McLaughlin in Goa

Shakira: Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour Kick Off - Rio de Janeiro

Singer Shakira admitted to hospital after abdominal issues force her to cancel concert

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Kyiv 'not invited' to US-Russia peace negotiations

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer

NHS on 'road to recovery', claims PM as he meets pledge to deliver two million extra appointments

Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine.

'I'm ready to put British troops into Ukraine', Keir Starmer says ahead of emergency Paris summit

Princess of Wales 'put her foot down'

Kate 'put her foot down' and stopped George, Charlotte and Louis taking part in gory hunting tradition