Strikes LIVE: UK ground to a halt in biggest action for decades as 500,000 walked out | UK | News

Jeremy Corbyn joins other Labour MPs supporting the massive strike action taking place today across the country. Corbyn, who has been amongst a enormous crowd moving through London, announced his support for the demonstration this morning. He was among other MPs who have joined the picket line today, despite Keir Starmer saying no MP should be on the picket line “if they want to be in government”. 

The Conservative Party press office shared Twitter posts showing 13 Labour MPs, including Richard Burgon, Ian Lavery and Kate Osborne taking part in “Walkout Wednesday”.  Mr Corbyn tweeted the following at 10:48 today: “Today, 500,000 workers are taking historic strike action. They are striking for decent pay. They are striving for social justice. They are fighting for us all.”  

Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell said he believed Labour MPs should be on the picket lines as well. He joined striking workers outside the Treasury and various locations in his constituency of Hayes and Harlington.

Half a million Britons are expected to take part in “Walkout Wednesday”, which will see workers including teachers, civil servants, train drivers, and Amazon warehouse staff refuse to show up to work to demand pay rises amid soaring inflation and eye-watering energy bills. The largest coordinated action in a generation will see schools close, the military on standby to help at Britain’s borders, and no rail services running across much of the country – but the Government is refusing to bring in pay rises, saying they will further drive inflation.