Military not ‘sufficiently trained’ to cover NHS strikes, unions say

Government accused of prioritising contingency planning ahead of securing a deal with workers

Unions have lashed out at plans for the armed forces to cover for striking public sector workers in the run-up to Christmas, claiming the military are not sufficiently trained" to plug staffing gaps on the frontline.

The government is deploying 1,200 troops from the army, navy and RAF to fill in for ambulance drivers and border staff during widespread strikes over the festive period, with more than 1,000 civil servants also drafted in to help.