Raab should be suspended until bullying inquiry concludes, civil servants’ union says – UK politics live
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Good morning. Rishi Sunak was only born in 1980, which means he wasn’t alive when governments of both parties were brought down to a large extent because they could not prevent industrial disputes in the 1970s, but he must know enough about British politics to realise that what is happening currently could make recovery for the Tories near impossible.
After Christmas Sunak initiated a series of talks between ministers and unions in the hope of resolving the disputes but, as we report in our overnight story about today’s “walkout Wednesday” day of mass strikes, that process has stalled.
Related: Up to half a million to strike across UK as talks go ‘backwards’
Sunak has also been hoping that, with strikes increasingly inconveniencing the public, people might turn on the Labour party, to which some of the unions that have been on strike are affiliated (although not the National Education Union, which may cause more disruption today). But polling shows that there is no overwhelming public opposition to the strikes, and some groups of workers have more people supporting their strike action than opposing.
Sunak will undoubtedly face questions on this at PMQs.
My colleague Geneva Abdul has a separate live blog covering the strikes. It is here.
Related: Millions face disruption as strikes hit schools, trains, universities and border checks – live
But I will be covering some of the political aspects here too.
Here is the agenda for the day.
Morning: James Cleverly, the foreign secretary, meets his Australian opposite number, Penny Wong, in London.
11am: Striking teachers start a march through London, culminating in a rally at Westminster.
12pm: Rishi Sunak faces Keir Starmer at PMQs.
4.30pm (UK time): Boris Johnson speaks at an Atlantic Council event in Washington.
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