Senior Labour MP John McDonnell has called for a general strike and criticised Sir Keir Starmer for sacking a junior minister after he stood on the picket line during yesterday’s rail strike.

Mr McDonnell, who was Jeremy Corbyn’s right-hand man, told Sky News the Labour Party should be supporting the strikes as rail workers call for a pay rise in line with inflation.

He said Labour leader Sir Keir has “misread the public mood” by failing to have specific targets on what workers should be paid and questioned who is advising him.

Mr McDonnell told Sky News’ Kay Burley: “I support coordinated action because if that results in decent pay rises for people that protect against the cost of living crisis, I think that’s the most effective thing to do.”

Mr McDonnell said he supported Sam Tarry, who is Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner’s partner, after he was sacked from his junior transport minister position on Wednesday after he appeared on the picket line at Euston Station and said workers should be getting a pay rise in line with inflation, which is set to rise to above 11%.

The Labour stalwart also said the party should be supporting the strikes and there should be a general strike if no progress is made.

The last time a general strike took place was in 1926 and was the only one held in the UK.

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