Keir Starmer tells Labour frontbench they should not join rail strike pickets

Unions critical of leader's instruction to senior MPs to show leadership' by not publicly siding with workers

Labour's frontbenchers have been warned to stay away from picket lines on the eve of the biggest rail strike since 1989.

As staff get ready to take part in the RMT strike on Tuesday, Keir Starmer's office told shadow cabinet members that to show leadership" frontbenchers should not be on picket lines".