Labour branded a ‘disgrace’ by Chris Grayling for supporting rail unions despite strikes heaping misery on millions

LABOUR have been branded a “disgrace” by Chris Grayling supporting their rail union-backers despite crippling strikes heaping misery on millions of commuters.

The Transport Secretary said he cannot take the party seriously on transport issues after Jeremy Corbyn said he would join a picket line with Southern Rail workers this week.

At transport questions in the Commons, shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald said Mr Grayling had "put party politics ahead of passengers" over the Southeastern decision.

Mr Grayling replied: "I cannot believe what I've just heard from him. Putting party politics before passengers, in the week when the Leader of the Opposition said he would join a picket line to perpetuate the unnecessary strikes on Southern Rail that are causing so much damage to passengers.

"I say to him, I will not take him seriously until I hear him condemn those strikes and tell the workers to go back to work."

He went on the attack, saying: "What we still don't hear from the benches opposite, is any words on behalf of passengers about the strikes.

"This is a party that takes money from the rail unions and defends them when they are on strike, no matter what the inconvenience is to passengers.

"They are a disgrace, they should stand up and say these strikes should stop."

He added: "We have not heard today one word of regret, of condemnation, of calls for unions to go back to work. Mr Speaker, they just don't care."

After Sadiq Khan broke ranks with his Labour colleagues to condemn the action by London Underground this week, Mr Grayling said: “The Mayor of London has at least had the wit and wisdom this week to say the strikes are wrong.

"I hear nothing from the honourable gentleman about the strikes being wrong."

The Cabinet minister has faced calls for an independent review of his decision to refuse Transport for London's proposals to take over Southeastern rail services.

A leaked letter showed Mr Grayling once opposed devolution of suburban rail routes in case it put them "in the clutches of a Labour mayor".

But Tory Charlie Elphicke backed the Transport Secretary's decision, telling MPs that London had acted "like a Hunger Games-style capital seeking to subjugate the districts".

The Dover MP said: "My constituents in Kent are deeply concerned that London for too long has acted as a selfish city, seeking to benefit itself at the expense of the people of Kent and the other home counties.”