Black Country MPs divided on who is to blame for train strike saga dragging on

MPs were divided down party lines when asked how they thought the industrial action, which have been driving passengers around the bend since last summer, would conclude.

Labour MPs believed the Government held the key to ending the dispute whereas Conservative MPs believed the unions' lowering their demands will get public transport back on track.

Warley Labour MP John Spellar believes the long-running dispute will end when the Government begins negotiating with the unions instead of the train companies.

He said: "This will only end when the Government stops dealing with this dispute at arm's length and starts negotiating with the unions.

"They own a quarter of the rail companies anyway and after all the money pumped in after Covid the rail companies will do what the Department of Transport tells them to do.

"Disputes like this only get sorted out when the people round the table actually have the power to make a deal so the Government need to strike a long term deal with the unions which will pay the workers what they deserve and most importantly end the disruption for the long-suffering public who just want to be able to trust the trains again."

Stourbridge Conservative MP Suzanne Webb believes the end of the line will come when the unions give in.

She said: "The only way to end this dispute is for the RMT and Aslef to see sense, come to the negotiating table, and thrash out a deal with the Rail Delivery Group.

"A year of strikes has achieved nothing except to leave the rail network in an even more parlous financial state as passenger numbers continue to remain lower than pre-pandemic levels."

She added: "There needs to be a dose of reality for the unions. Without modernisation in working practices, the rail industry will continue to struggle. Any pay deal needs to encompass those changes, as the industry has said all along."

Halesowen and Rowley Regis Conservative MP James Morris is certain the public will bear the brunt of further industrial action.

He said: "It is regrettable that more rail strikes are threatened. These will cause great inconvenience to passengers as well as doing more damage to the railway industry as it meets the challenges of the post-Covid period.

"Fair and reasonable offers have been put on the table and strikes are unnecessary."

Labour Wolverhampton South East MP Pat McFadden believes the strike will end like they all do - with a deal.

He said: "These strikes have gone on for many months now. Like all industrial disputes it will eventually end in a deal of some kind.

"The problem for the public is that it is taking far too long for this deal to be done. I urge all parties to negotiate with new energy to get this sorted out."

Members of Aslef have announced plans to strike on Wednesday, May 31 and Saturday, June 3 when Manchester City and Manchester United meet at Wembley for the FA Cup Final.

The RMT strike will be the day prior to the final, on Friday, June 2, and will involve 20,000 catering, station staff and train managers working for 14 companies.