mick lynch, welcome to hardtalk. leader of a union that's been in a long—running dispute now. it goes back to last summer, there had been rolling sporadic strikes. as it goes on, does it feel harder to find your way to a compromise? well, there's no easy way out for either side. the government has boxed themselves into a corner to a large extent, and i think that's predicated on the idea of setting precedents for public sector. we've seen the nurses, ambulance drivers, many civil servants in dispute along similar lines. people aren't being paid enough in this society at the moment, and many public sector workers have had long—term pay cuts measured against any measure of inflation. so, there's some catch—up to be done, and that makes it harder because the government wants to bear down on inflation and they want to teach workers a lesson, that they'll have to put up with what they're providing. so, it is tough, but we're in a better position than we were, say, two years ago, where trade unions seemed a bit cowed, and

that's essentially what mick lynch is for. well no.ut reform and just to take a not really because he doesn't want any redundancies ever. doesn't want any redundancies ever . sorry, i was just doesn't want any redundancies ever. sorry, i was just picking up on harry's point. these are not train drivers any% of rmt are actually train drivers. they belong a different union, which is aslef . so what it comes to is aslef. so what it comes to reform is, yes, he's prepared to talk reforms. however what he's not going to go along with the idea that we'll lose all ticket office staff within next two years, we'll lose guards on trains during that time that will make travelling less safe. it'll mean disabled and elderly people will have a problem at stations. so it is not a question of actually not talking about redundancy, not talking about redundancy, not talking about reform. it's a question of how that looks and offer on the table. now no improvement than it was , say, last month with it was, say, last month with with their final and last of

rmt boss mick lynch is taking the mick after they reject the latest pay offer and in the news with my panel after complaints that they're ignoring pedestrian crossings all cyclists now out of . also, is it wrong to eat of. also, is it wrong to eat food in bed.7 do of. also, is it wrong to eat food in bed? do you eat snacks when you're tucked up in bed? are you eating now whilst reclined? plus are you ever too old to party? we've got tomorrow's papers with full panel reaction. lots to get through. a busy show. i'll see you after the headlines with . you after the headlines with. tatiana . mark. good evening. tatiana. mark. good evening. thank you very much. this is the latest. the gb newsroom, the home secretary has condemned what. she described as the appalling disorder that happened dunng appalling disorder that happened during protests . a hotel housing during protests. a hotel housing migrants knowsley on friday . migrants knowsley on friday. suella braverman tweeted that the alleged behaviour of some asylum seekers is never an excuse for and intimidation . it excuse for and intimi

rmt boss mick lynch is taking the mick after they reject the latest pay offer and in the news with my panel after complaints that they're ignoring pedestrian crossings all cyclists now out of . also, is it wrong to eat of. also, is it wrong to eat food in bed? do you eat snacks when you're tucked up in bed? are you eating now whilst reclined? plus are you ever too old to party? we've got tomorrow's papers with full panel reaction. lots to get through. a busy show. i'll see you after the headlines with . you after the headlines with. tatiana . mark. good evening. tatiana. mark. good evening. thank you very much. this is the latest. the gb newsroom, the home secretary has condemned what. she described as the appalling disorder that happened dunng appalling disorder that happened during protests . a hotel housing during protests. a hotel housing migrants knowsley on friday . migrants knowsley on friday. suella braverman tweeted that the alleged behaviour of some asylum seekers is never an excuse for and intimidation . it excuse for and intimidation. it comes shortly after merseyside poli

i spoke to mick lynch. but we all going to think about it. so went out on on a kind of roadshow they didn't officially ballot they ballot their members but they kind put on a roadshow and kind of put on a roadshow and consulted members they've consulted members and they've come they've said come back and then they've said it it dreadful come back and then they've said it effectively it dreadful come back and then they've said it effectively and dreadful come back and then they've said it effectively and they'rel come back and then they've said it effectively and they're not and effectively and they're not accepting they're going accepting so they're all going to be more talks. we don't have dates for those talks yet. i spoke to the department for transport. have a response from the department transport on the department for transport on the department for transport on the would have thought the way. one would have thought there'll be response from there'll also be a response from there'll also be a response

the rmt union's boss, mick lynch, said the offers were "dreadful".where are we? well, in some ways, and almost feels _ where are we? well, in some ways, and almost feels like _ where are we? well, in some ways, and almost feels like we're - where are we? well, in some ways, and almost feels like we're back- where are we? well, in some ways, and almost feels like we're back to l and almost feels like we're back to square one, really. the rmt says it spent a bit of time talking to the members and reps, and basically people of all levels... signalling staff, and also the train companies group, which represent people like guards — it says after those discussions, the committee at the head of the rmt has decided to reject both those offers because it says they don't meet members�*s expectations on pay, job security or working conditions. the offers had both been 5% pay increase for last year and a 4% increase this year, but crucially they had been dependent on a number of changes to working practices, how things were run and set up on the railway — and th

but when i spoke to mick lynch on sunday he said certainly not said that certainly they're not standingtanding up to applaud the current on the current deal that's on the table but considering it and but they are considering it and next there could be next week there could be a breakthrough, a settlement agreed . the rmt, which is three agreed. the rmt, which is three times bigger in terms of members than aslef and the rail delivery group and network rail aslef. though remain adamant, though, that the industrial action, it sounds it will continue the sounds like it will continue the moment. today is the eighth day of action to well over 25 days from the rmt , so one would have from the rmt, so one would have thought that certainly aslef members consider that members when you consider that they're average wage of 60 they're on an average wage of 60 grand year, rising to 65, if grand a year, rising to 65, if they were to accept this deal, they were to accept this deal, they can afford to take further industrial as we head industrial action. as we head towards spring. indeed, paula. i mean

the rmt boss mick lynch described the offer as "dreadful".a "kick in the teeth for passengers across the country." mps have demanded a school in surrey is investigated, after a black pupil was injured in what police describe as a serious racially aggravated assault. distressing footage shared widely online shows a girl being punched, kicked and having her hair pulled. there have been protests outside thomas knyvett college in ashford, over its response to the incident. the headteacher, richard beeson says "all necessary steps are being taken". lancashire police maintain they believe the missing woman nicola bulley, who disappeared two weeks ago, somehow fell into a nearby river while walking her dog. police divers have been searching the river wyre since january the 27th. her partner, paul ansell, says he's convinced that she isn't in the water. speaking to channel 5, he said people "don'tjust vanish into thin air". here's danny savage. the friends of miss bulley are lining roads at st michael's on wyre in lancashire, holding placards hoping

you're the twin of mick lynch you of the twin of mick lynch you of the while were the one those closere offer and i'm looking forward seeing the results of the ballot. what do you think of it? i smiled, actually i mean, of course you admire his tenacity, but that doing isn't he's doing his job, isn't he? he's doing his job, isn't he? he's doing his job representing his members. but unless government gets on strikes, gets a grip on strikes, they have lost the may elections, they're probably going to lose most elections in may most of the elections in may anyway . but strikes is a anyway. but i think strikes is a really big issue for. people, whether trains or nhs or whether it's trains or nhs or teachers or whoever it impacts on people's lives and they expect the government to sort this out and the government has got to sort it out. yes, i think they should accept this offer. of course, we're coming up to the turn of the. so an offer that's been made for this year is about change because any is about to change because any now going to be in the now we're going to be in the next financia

sectors across the united kingdom , across the united kingdom, whether it's unreformed, marxist mick lynchhe militant aslef union or indeed staff at the british museum . that's the british museum. that's right. members of the public and commercial services who work at the british museum set to strike until the 19th of february. half term events have had to be cancelled and. parents hoping for a cultural or educational afternoon out will have to think again . but what exactly is this again. but what exactly is this strike over and what does it say more widely about the industrial landscape of the united kingdom ? landscape of the united kingdom .7 olivia utley is our political reporter and joins me live from the picket line. olivia, what are these strikes about .7 well, are these strikes about? well, it's a very broad ranging strike, really. what the here asking for is more pay, better terms , redundancy and better terms, redundancy and better terms, redundancy and better terms generally . it's part of terms generally. it's part of a national covering. the whole of the union, which includes

i mean, i had mick lynch today and i know you said that rmt is not unked i know you said that rmt iso low pay, but he was saying he's , you know, saying basically he's, you know, rising of the working class , rising of the working class, that he was saying we basically demand we are united, we won't be divided on the basis of who we work for. so this whole kind of notion of coordination and bringing this together , what bringing this together, what other benefit is there in coordinating strikes across sector cross union? if it's not for political capital? well i think it's political progress. people want their voices heard. they have a they have there is a common sentiment in the public sector and in many unions that the country is going to the dogs because of its political leadership. now, not everybody watching or listening tonight would agree with that. right. but think nothing works but they think nothing works properly. it's badly run . and properly. it's badly run. and they think the way this the conservative party governs that they billions of pounds they waste billions of pou

the rmt boss mick lynch described the offers as "dreadful", but the rail delivery group said passengersn. labour have won the west lancashire by—election, securing a majority of more than 8,000. ashley dalton is the new mp, after rosie cooper quit to work in the health service. the manchester city manager pep guardiola has accused premier league rivals of conspiring against them after his club was charged with more than a hundred breaches of financial regulations. on monday, city were referred to an independent commission, but guardiola insists the club is innocent. our sports editor dan roan has that story. for pep guardiola this season was meant to be about defending manchester city boss mike title. instead he has been called to defend his club over the catalogue of charges levelled against it by the premier league over alleged breaches of financial rule since the club was my abu dhabi takeover in 2008, the manager today coming out fighting. how confident are you that you have been told everything? has it affected your belief in the club? mr; affected your belief in the club? my first

rmt boss mick lynch is taking the mick after they reject the latest pay offer and in the news with myel after complaints that they're ignoring pedestrian crossings all cyclists now out of . also, is it wrong to eat of. also, is it wrong to eat food in bed? do you eat snacks when you're tucked up in bed?

the pay deal was 9% over two years, but mick lynch says it doesn't meet expectations on jobs, securityrking conditions. the rail delivery group described their offer is fair and said some members will be deeply dismayed at the rejection. but the rmt, former assistant general steve hadley, told gb news members want more money. pension. last year was 11 and a half % this year was 11 and a half% this year was 11 and a half% this year it's already ten and a half % that make one but make or don't. we don't know. but when inflation goes down, it doesn't mean prices come it just mean prices come down. it just means stop raising. so means they stop raising. so quickly. so quite rightly, the rmt membership that, you know, a 12% pay cut over two years is not acceptable in real terms . not acceptable in real terms. the latest figures show , the the latest figures show, the economy narrowly avoided falling recession in the final quarter of last year. data from the office for national shows the economy sold zero growth between october and december. but the overall annual gdp rate grew by 4.1. the c

the pay deal was 9% over two years, but mick lynch says it doesn't meet expectations on jobs, securityrking conditions. the rail delivery group described their offer is fair and said some members will be deeply dismayed at the rejection. but the rmt, former assistant general steve hadley, told gb news members want more money. pension. last year was 11 and a half % this year was 11 and a half% this year was 11 and a half% this year it's already ten and a half % that make one but make or don't. we don't know. but when inflation goes down, it doesn't mean prices come it just mean prices come down. it just means stop raising. so means they stop raising. so quickly. so quite rightly, the rmt membership that, you know, a 12% pay cut over two years is not acceptable in real terms . not acceptable in real terms. the latest figures show , the the latest figures show, the economy narrowly avoided falling recession in the final quarter of last year. data from the office for national shows the economy sold zero growth between october and december. but the overall annual gdp rate grew by 4.1. the c

do you think that mick lynch? to go under in for their own egos, to not suffer . i i go under in for their own egos, to not suffer. i i think i think it's been going on the now been going on in the railways for so long now that they can't afford to lose so a friend of mine was at a meeting in the city of really wigs the other night to dinner and these are people who placed billions of bets you they're massively important our country not one of them was going to invest in the uk over the next 3 to 5 years. no, every penny was going to go . the penny was going to go. the united states . to me, this united states. to me, this reminds me the right because i'm a bit older than you guys and probably a good bit older than your right. i this reminds me so much of the late seventies and i really feel sorry for our country we have things that we have got this railway right with dispute going on it will go on all they are not going to win for the first time they are going to be defeated calvin very quickly and finally, do yo

the pay deal was 9% over two years, but mick lynch it doesn't meet expectations on jobs, security ororking conditions. the rail delivery group described their offer is fair and said some members will be deeply dismayed. but the reports , former but the reports, former assistant general secretary steve hadley told gb news members want more money, shouldn't. last year was 11 and a half % this year it's already a half% this year it's already ten and a half% that make what may go down, we don't know. but when inflation goes down, it doesn't mean prices come down. it just means they stop rising so quickly . so, quite rightly , so quickly. so, quite rightly, the rmt membership said that , the rmt membership said that, you know, a 12% pay cut over two years is not acceptable in real terms . the latest figures show terms. the latest figures show the economy narrowly avoided falling into recession in the final quarter of last year. data from the office for national statistics shows the economy sold zero growth between october and december, but the overall annual gdp rate grew by 4.1. the chan

the pay deal was 9% over two years, but mick lynch it doesn't meet expectations on jobs, security ororking conditions. the rail delivery group described their offer is fair and said some members will be deeply dismayed. but the reports , former but the reports, former assistant general secretary steve hadley told gb news members want more money, shouldn't. last year was 11 and a half % this year it's already a half% this year it's already ten and a half% that make what may go down, we don't know. but when inflation goes down, it doesn't mean prices come down. it just means they stop rising so quickly . so, quite rightly , so quickly. so, quite rightly, the rmt membership said that , the rmt membership said that, you know, a 12% pay cut over two years is not acceptable in real terms . the latest figures show terms. the latest figures show the economy narrowly avoided falling into recession in the final quarter of last year. data from the office for national statistics shows the economy sold zero growth between october and december, but the overall annual gdp rate grew by 4.1. the chan

mick lynch poisonous creatures.do want to leave this country with the left the unions still random from going to work but it's true that the unions will they will not agree long of these strikes that they will forever. well this is that was known as question of what can the uk workforce. i mean obviously give them more money give them you know like lower their taxes help out help out their taxes help out to help out their taxes help out to help out the the nurses, all the the police, the nurses, all the people who trying to people who they are trying to do. they're trying to poach seems be ones that are, seems to be the ones that are, you striking or a problem. you know, striking or a problem. so, i mean , is western australia so, i mean, is western australia striking at the time to come and like pinch someone? well, you know probably what know they're probably doing what we them and saying well we did to them and saying well you keep the people who you could keep the people who come channel now and come across the

he also said if there is an agreement between the other mic, as mick lynch the boss of the rmt next weekthe rmt are currently considering the what the government called a full and final offer on the table and mick lynch tells they'll be reporting back on that deal next week. if there's a settlement, mcquillan from aslef says that that will not their dispute and that will not their dispute and that it will be ongoing. but they've only had a day to remember from the aunty's point you remember from the aunty's point you pay remember from the aunty's point you pay that they've had a total of three weeks coming up of almost three weeks coming up for month worth of strike for a month worth of strike action, some months lost pay for all rmt members. the rmt at least three times bigger in terms of number of compared to aslef have a smaller union. aslef as have a smaller union. and although yes, they try and drives they're a key part of getting the around the getting the trains around the network. they earn as you say £60,000 here. the rail delivery group would put group say their offer would put

i spoke to mick lynch on sunday.up to applaud this deal. we're not getting off our feet for it. but we are considering it. we're putting it to members at the moment. we'll come back to with a response come back to you with a response next so it sounds like the next week. so it sounds like the rmt could agree to settlement with the rail employers next week . but in with the rail employers next week. but in terms of rail drivers who myself represent there's no there's no end in sight to the industrial action yet. and they said that there could be further dates announced a bit of optimism of that coming of euston station this morning. thanks very much indeed for that. keep our fingers that. let's all keep our fingers crossed indeed. does come crossed. indeed. that does come to let's hope so. to pass. yeah, let's hope so. don't we're don't go anywhere. we're going to short break. but then to take a short break. but then straight after we're straight up after that we're talking the talking to stephen kinnock, the shadow m

and i know the mick lynch weighed in on the strikes . i've seen the teachers strikes. seen the teachers strikes. i've seen the teachers strike and we are the strike and said, we are the working and we are back, working class and we are back, which little bit cringe. which a little bit cringe. you're more than most you're earning more than most middle people, yeah, middle class people, but yeah, many but hey, many train drivers are. but hey, i'm he's got he's got the i'm sure he's got he's got the down pat of his knee. oh yeah, i down pat of his knee. oh yeah, i do do it for you. i quite like it. a little tinge of nostalgia watching. but you do notice all this right wing bigot simon. well, and mentioned news gb well, and you mentioned news gb news yeah. and he news yeah yeah. and he said especially simon a simon especially that simon is a simon evans like well will in evans like well i will say in defence of the concept if you have a rule in place, as soon as a person earns a certain amount of money, you don't let them defend the working class. you mean the working can

the pay deal was 9% over two years, but mick lynch says it doesn't meet expectations on job securityr working conditions. the rail delivery group, however, described their offer as fair and said some members will be deeply dismayed. meanwhile around 15,000 ambulance workers in england have been striking today in their dispute over paid jobs and conditions. today in their dispute over paid jobs and conditions . and more jobs and conditions. and more than 70,000 and staff . at 150 than 70,000 and staff. at 150 universities are walking out for the second day this week . the the second day this week. the chancellor has warned the uk isn't out of the woods yet after the latest figures show the economy narrowly avoided falling into recession in the final quarter of last year. data from the office for national statistics shows the economy saw zero growth between october and december , but the overall annual december, but the overall annual gdp rate grew by 4.1. jeremy hunt welcomed the figures, but warns there's still more to be done. well, the fact that we have avoided recession, in fact,

and i know the mick lynch weighed in on the strikes . i've seen the teachers strikes. seen the teachers strikes. i've seen the teachers strike and we are the strike and said, we are the working and we back, working class and we are back, which a little bit cringe. you're more than most you're earning more than most middle people, but middle class people, but yeah, many but hey, many train drivers are. but hey, i'm he's got he's got the i'm sure he's got he's got the down pat of his knee. oh yeah, i down pat of his knee. oh yeah, i do do it for you. i quite like it. a little tinge of nostalgia watching. but you do notice all this right wing bigot simon. well, and mentioned news gb well, and you mentioned news gb news yeah. and he said news yeah yeah. and he said especially is a simon especially that simon is a simon evans like i say in evans like well i will say in defence of the concept if you have a rule in place, as soon as a person earns a certain amount of money, you don't let them defend the working class. you mean the working can only mean the working class can o

lots of them joined up, coordinated , said joined up, coordinated, said mick lynch was saying yesterdayective of who we work for, we are united. do you think it's a concerted play to try and bnng it's a concerted play to try and bring government down? well, bring the government down? well, they maximise their they try to maximise their leverage. think fundamentally leverage. i think fundamentally they're high they're all trying to out high wages. think if they had wages. i don't think if they had if these industry rates had a choice in meeting our demands, demands, having our rises demands, having our wage rises sort for sort of tied with inflation for 2022, 2023 or 2023, 2024, i think they would take that. i don't think that there is a will install a labour government and let's be real. many people within the trade union movement and aren't very fond of and the left aren't very fond of keir they're under keir starmer and they're under no about a labour no illusions about what a labour government will do. so think government will do. so i think really objective really now the primary ob

i think we're mick lynch has gone wrong the rmt leader is he hasn't put this vote of the members thisrmt members as in my transport role . and first of all, they would have voted to accept it. and secondly, the furious that not been a vote and this is the same mistake arthur scargill made in the 1980s with the coal miners. you need to put these matters to the membership . and mick the membership. and if mick lynch very secure in his lynch is very secure in his position, then presumably his members will reject it. but they're not being the they're not being given the chance so. it's not very chance to do so. it's not very democratic that it's not democratic that it's not democratic no, it's democratic now. no, it's becoming by day that becoming clearer by the day that he's for his own he's using this for his own political because he political agenda, because if he did about members, so did care about his members, so he you say, put it to he would, as you say, put it to them. emily, let's talk about them. emily, let's talk about the cancel culture in the times. the actress cate blanchet

there's enough of this and put on the table by the government that consulting their members spoke to mick lynch they're going to come week with come back next week with an answer it's answer on that deal. so it's there's potentially settlement there's potentially a settlement there's potentially a settlement there terms of there with rmt. but in terms of aslef , majority which aslef, the majority of which look , the train drivers, it look, the train drivers, it looks like this dispute could carry unless there's carry on unless there's a significant movement from . the significant movement from. the rail delivery group . no latest rail delivery group. no latest enquires , i suppose it was in enquires, i suppose it was in qatar, is it ? yeah, that's where qatar, is it? yeah, that's where we last saw qatar at the world cup. but no , he's got cup. but no, he's got a different backdrop now with the total different weather to scarf on today . yeah, on a different on today. yeah, on a different story. miserable story. the story. a miserable story. the strikes need to stop and the country to back count

the rmt�*s general secretary, mick lynch, called the offer dreadful and vowed to continue industrial they are still keeping an open mind, still looking for dash cam footage from anybody driving at the time along the main road next to the river here and over the bridge behind me. the police have also put out a message to people commenting about this case on social media. there has been an awful lot of that over the last two weeks since she disappeared. people coming up with various theories about what may have happened and the police say some of that has gone too far. we saw over the last week people coming down here and filming their own videos, supposedly investigating. the police saying they are continuing to see groundless and hurtful abuse of innocent people, including witnesses and local businesses. they say they are also seeing a huge amount of commentary from so—called experts as well as ill informed speculation and conspiracy theories and they say thatis conspiracy theories and they say that is damaging to their investigation as well as to this community, this small village i

mick lynch, the union boss, described the offers as "dreadful", adding: "our members cannot accept the severed offers by both of those. today, instead of maybe giving members a vote on the offer, as the rail industry and the government had asked, there, and rejected them. the rmt has also said they are speaking an unconditional offer on pay —— seeking an unconditional offer on pay, because the government has said that their pay increases on offer have to be funded by what they describe as reforms, which is how they have approached this whole dispute. the rmt is clearly saying today that it cannot accept some of the conditions attached, essentially, which they say would see ticket offices potentially close, which is one of the plant that has been talked about, and it says thousands ofjobs are stripped out of the industry. now, we have not had a response yet from network rail or at the group representing the train company, nor the government. they have previously insisted that the changes that they want to happen are necessary for modernisation, and there is a particular bone of contenti

mick whalen , said the union was mick whalen, said the union was open to further talks as the rmt mick lynch also said that talks are ongoing but it's not enough. talks are ongoing but it's not enough . the relatively free enough. the relatively free groups say it is a fair and affordable pay rise that will put drivers pay up from affordable pay rise that will put drivers pay up fro m £60,000 put drivers pay up from £60,000 a year to £65,000 a year. but the dispute goes on. and as even the dispute goes on. and as ever, with these rail with these rail strikes, very patchy service across england, which has a knock on effect for services heading into scotland and wales . and the advice is to and wales. and the advice is to check before you travel. of course, a lot of people kind of accommodating these strikes now by working from home. so if you can't send the kids to school, i guess that kind of helps with that. but the knock on effect of course, with the economy is huge hospitality lost £2 billion since start these rail since the start of these rail strikes. so there's a huge knock on effect f

anyone who's been following this closely will see that the language being used by mark harper and mick lynchecember, actually in subsidy , since we are further in subsidy, since we are further away from deal than ever before. the bright spot for the government is that vote the rmt union members didn't actually vote on this deal and there a chance that we know that they're getting a little bit tired of these strikes because they're losing out on pay and there's nothing . 20 days of strikes, nothing. 20 days of strikes, i think it is in the past three months. and there is a chance that they will decide not to vote to strike next time. the is put to them, because it seems like they are i mean, not going to take a view on this. but the rmt you would argue is boxed into a corner hasn't it because if it said this is our absolute we will not accept any compromise at all. well you can't imagine the government moving forward and say, all right, well, you can have your % right, well, you can have your% or even 8% or 6% if you're not going to make any changes. they're just not going to it, they're just