UK strikes: No 10 admits ‘very difficult’ day ahead as hundreds of thousands of workers walk out
Hundreds of thousands of workers are going on strike, in what will be the biggest day of industrial action for more than a decade.
Teachers in England and Wales who are members of the National Education Union are set to stage walkouts – affecting 23,000 schools.
Estimates from the NEU suggest 85% of schools across both nations will be fully or partially closed today, leaving some parents with no choice but to take leave from work or arrange childcare.
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‘No way to stop teacher strike’
Read more: Who is going on strike and when?
Train drivers from the RMT and Aslef unions are also staging another strike as a long-running dispute over pay and conditions rumbles on – with university lecturers, bus drivers and security guards taking action too.
About 123 government departments are set to be disrupted by industrial action as well.
Protests are due to be held across the country against the government’s controversial plans for a new law on minimum service levels during strikes.
Downing Street has conceded that today’s mass strike action will be “very difficult” for the public.
The prime minister’s official spokesman said it is “disappointing” that headteachers do not know fully how many teachers will be available for work until later today.
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‘Right to have discussions’ with unions
Union bosses continue to argue with employers for higher pay rises to combat record high inflation and real-term cuts over the past decade.
The latest research from the TUC suggests that the average public sector worker is more than £200 a month worse off compared with a decade ago.
But ministers continue to insist increasing wages to that level would fuel inflation, and its top priority was to cut that down over the coming weeks and months.
More strikes are expected next week and will be dominated by NHS staff, with both nurses and ambulance workers planning action.
NHS consultants in England are also preparing for possible strike action.
And the following week will see Border Force officers at four ports strike over four days in the February half-term.
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Do parents support the strike?
Scale of school strikes revealed
Some schools may only open to certain year groups as a result of today’s industrial action.
Liverpool City Council is expecting 38% of schools to be closed, with 54% only partially open, based on returns from 130 of around 160 schools in the city.
Meanwhile, Norfolk County Council said they had already been informed of 121 partial closures and 29 full closures across schools.
The NEU’s joint general secretary, Kevin Courtney, said he and his members “sincerely regret” the impact this will cause to a child’s education and routine, but warned: “We’re pointing to disruption that is happening every day in schools.
“If we don’t persuade government to invest in education that disruption just carries on.”
While a 5% pay rise has been offered to most teachers – covering the current school year – the NEU is demanding a fully funded, above-inflation pay rise.
Today marks the first of seven days of NEU strike action across February and March, but Mr Courtney hopes a deal can be reached before further walkouts take place.
He said: “There are 28 days until the next strike in England. The government can resolve it in that time.”
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
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As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
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