Kelvin MacKenzie has slammed strikers as he says despite messages of “doom and gloom” the country has “got on rather well” following weeks of industrial action.
Mr Mackenzie says the strikes may have had the opposite effect desired by state workers as it shows the country “doesn’t need them”.
Border force control and driving instructors begin strikes today as travel disruption continues across railways while commuters return to work after the Christmas break.
Strikes: Mr Mackenzie says the airports have been 'free flowing' despite strikes
GB News
Speaking on GB News, Mr Mackenzie said: “With the border force workers, of course we want them to stay on strike for as long as possible.
“The reality is that everything is free flowing and despite all these messages of doom and gloom from organised labour in our country, strangely we have got on rather well with the fact that loads of state workers have been out on strike, it may be that we don’t need them.”
State workers including railway staff, the Royal Mail, nurses and ambulance workers have carried out strikes across several weeks in disputes over pay and working conditions.
The former Sun editor added: “We certainly don’t need the number of train employees; we don’t need post office workers and now it appears we don’t even need Border Force employees.
“I say, carry on striking for as long as you like. They are trying to hurt us, the people that pay their wages, they are trying to damage ordinary taxpayers and ordinary people and it’s turned out it hasn’t worked out the way they wanted it to.”
It comes after a day of travel chaos despite a rail strike by the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers’ Union (RMT) coming to an end, with crowds of people left waiting at major train stations and many journeys delayed due to the late handover of engineering works.
Strikes over Christmas caused a back log of commuters at stations across the UK
James Manning
A Department for Transport spokesman said: “After two years of virtual Christmases, the British public deserve better than to have their festive celebrations impacted by strikes.
“The Transport Secretary and rail minister have worked hard to facilitate a fair and reasonable offer, which two unions have accepted, and it is incredibly disappointing that some continue to strike.
“We urge them to step back, reconsider and get back round the table, so we can start 2023 by ending this damaging dispute.
