Grant Shapps rules out meeting with rail unions as strikes halt most trains

Shadow minister defying Labour leadership to stand on picket line says lives are at stake

Grant Shapps has escalated the government's confrontation with the rail unions by ruling out meeting with them, as a shadow minister said lives could be lost" if wages did not improve.

Labour's Sam Tarry defied his party leadership to stand on the picket line at Euston on Wednesday morning while rail strikes disrupted travel for millions.