Up to half a million to strike across UK as talks go ‘backwards’

Action by teachers, civil servants, Border Force staff and train drivers to go ahead, with ministers accused of stonewalling'

Up to half a million workers will go on strike on Wednesday with thousands of schools shut, rail lines closed down and significant border disruption, as unions said negotiations on ending strikes were going backwards".

Ministers have been accused of hoodwinking the public" and freezing any moves towards a settlement with NHS workers and rail unions. Government sources privately conceded that optimism at the beginning of the month about bringing an end to strike action had faded.