Former Labour Leader, Jeremy Corbyn has sparked fury after being snapped on an RMT picket line as millions of Londoners face transport chaos. Mr Corbyn, who now sits as an Independent MP for Islington, posed with striking union workers, whilst countless commuters faced disruption.
But his spokesman claimed the action could have been avoided if Mr Corbyn had walked into Downing Street in 2019. The spokesman said: “If Corbyn had won in 2019, these strikes would have been avoided because workers would have been offered the fair deal they deserve.”
Unionised workers already earn up to £75,000 a year, and have demanded cut-price travel and even cheap Legoland tickets to call off the strike.
But Mr Corbyn’s spokesman added: “Tory and Labour governments have driven people to desperation. Perhaps that’s why 750,000 people have signed up to build a new political party – one that believes in redistributing wealth and power so that everyone can live in dignity.”
His comments drew immediate backlash, with Conservatives in London slamming My Corbyn and saying he was siding with militant unions instead of ordinary Londoners, unable to get to work or school.
Susan Hall AM, leader of the London Conservatives, said: “I’m surprised to see Khan isn’t in shot with his old mate, considering how conspicuously absent he’s been from this crisis.”
Her criticism comes after opponents of the Mayor said he had “gone missing” amid the strike crisis.
She added: “Heaven knows where our city, or indeed our country, would have been right now if Corbyn had won in 2019 – probably more strikes, more disruption, and more misery.”
The intervention was intended to remind people of Mr Corbyn’s turbulent period of leadership, when his close ties to unions were often criticised.
His latest appearance on the picket line comes as Londoners face a week of transport misery, with Tube strikes bringing the capital to a grinding halt.
The RMT has faced growing public anger over its frequent strike action, which have caused widespread disruption to transport services in London.
