Nandy sides with both public and workers as rail strikes loom

Shadow levelling up secretary says Labour wants to avoid industrial action as RMT plans June walkouts

The shadow levelling up secretary, Lisa Nandy, said she is on the side of both the public and workers as unions prepare to stage major strike action on the rail network in the coming weeks.

Nandy fell short of explicitly backing or opposing the planned industrial action during an interview on ITV's Good Morning Britain, instead saying Labour wanted to avoid strikes.

This story was amended on 9 June to clarify Lisa Nandy's position after her office contacted the Guardian