Motorists are being told to expect a surge in traffic on roads across the UK this week as a result of the biggest national rail strike in decades.
The AA has today issued a warning to all drivers that they are likely to face long queues as most railway lines will be closed during the industrial strike action on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday as workers take part in what is the biggest walkout in the industry for more than 30 years in a row over pay, jobs, and conditions.
It’s believed that the worst-affected roads are likely to be main motorway arteries, according to the AA, as well as rural and suburban areas.
Scotland and Wales are expected to be the worst hit out of the nations, with the M74, M8 and A9 in Scotland predicted to see severe traffic, and the M4, A55, A5, and A483 in Wales also affected, according to the AA.
Even through the rail strikes are only set for Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, delays and cancellations also look likely on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday too.
Many commuters are therefore expected to “give up on trains for the whole week”.
RAC spokesperson Rod Dennis said an impact on the roads was “inevitable”, and the walkouts mean it’s little wonder so many Brits are dependent on their vehicles.
He added: “Major city routes as well as those serving the home counties are likely to see some of the biggest increases in traffic volumes as, even if rail lines are still open, there will be significantly fewer trains running.”
The RMT Union officially confirmed earlier this month that over 50,000 railway workers will walk out on 21, 23 and 25 June due to what is said to be the “inability of the rail employers to come to a negotiated settlement” with RMT.
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It comes after 71% of RMT 40,000 members took part in a vote, with 89% voting in favour of strike action and only 11% voting against it.
The RMT Union said the strike action is because Network Rail and the train operating companies have subjected their staff to multiyear pay freezes, and plan to cut thousands of jobs – which will make the railways “unsafe”.
Over 50,000 railway workers will walk out on 21, 23 and 25 June / Credit: Network Rail
Members of the RMT Union at Network Rail and 13 train operators – including Northern and Avanti West Coast – will subsequently strike this week, with only around one in five trains expected to be running.
Last-minute talks between unions and rail bosses will continue today.
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But it’s been revealed that no government representative will be there for the negotiations, and union leaders have accused the government of “abjectly failing” in their responsibilities and “inflaming tensions” over the rail dispute.
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “The government has the power to help end this dispute but rather than working in good faith to find a negotiated settlement, ministers are inflaming tensions and trying to pitch worker against worker… [when they] should be getting people around the table to help agree a fair deal.”
She said nobody takes strike action lightly, but insisted that rail staff have been left with “no other option”.
A special timetable will operate in England, Wales and Scotland from Monday 20 to Sunday 26 June inclusive.
The timetable – published on Friday – will aim to offer the best service possible despite industrial action planned next week by the RMT union:
“Many rail staff who will be hit hardest, such as caterers and cleaners, are on low and average earnings [and] it’s insulting to ask them to take yet another real-terms pay cut when rail companies took £500 million in profits during the pandemic,” she continued.
“If these cuts go ahead, thousands of safety-critical and frontline jobs will be lost.
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“We need a better vision for the future of rail than commuters packed on unsafe trains like sardines.”
Kick It Out issues statement condemning Jim Ratcliffe’s comments about immigrants
Danny Jones
Football’s leading anti-discrimination organisation here in the UK, Kick It Out, have issued an official statement condemning the recent comments made by Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe regarding immigration.
Safe to say that the remarks made by the minority stakeholder haven’t gone down well among the majority either, be that United fans, other football supporters, or members of the public in general.
Unsurprisingly, the contentious talking head has sparked major backlash far beyond just the fan base, with everyone from Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, pundits such as Carl Anka and political commentator Piers Morgan issuing their own responses to the clip on social media.
Meanwhile, Anka is one of many to point out the hypocrisy behind the British billionaire’s stance, given that he has registered his formal residence in the principality of Monaco, meaning he doesn’t have to pay UK income tax.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has also come out to criticise the 73-year-old INEOS chairman and CEO, writing simply that what he said was “offensive and wrong”, noting that “Britain is a proud, tolerant and diverse country.”
Ratcliffe was born in Failsworth – part of the metropolitan borough of Oldham – but most notably lived in Hampshire, before also relocating his petrochemical company’s headquarters to Switzerland back in 2010 and, as previously mentioned, moving to Monaco himself at the outset of the pandemic.
As for Kick It Out, the anti-hate group shared a short but emphatic statement on social media expressing their disappointment and distress following the outburst.
I'm confident the vast majority of my fellow United fans want nothing to do with Ratcliffe's toxic comments. A horrible man happy to dodge tax and sow division in the country that made him.
The statement goes on to recognise that Man United‘s home city is one “whose cultural history has been enriched by immigrants”, adding, “This type of language and leadership has no place in English football, and we believe most fans will feel the same.”
Despite having roots in the region, many online are now expressing that they feel the expat deeply misunderstands not only the multiculturalism that makes the club a global brand and worldwide sporting community, but also the region he was born in, and the nation he belongs to truly great.
Plenty more on social media are also raising concerns after journalist Ed Conway pointed out that Ratcliffe recently engaged with right-wing Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage.
Quizzing him on the meeting during the chat, Ratcliffe said, “I think Nigel is an intelligent man and I think he’s got good intentions” and that the role of PM requires someone willing to make “unpopular decisions” to get “the big issues sorted out”.
You can watch Jim Ratcliffe’s sit-down with Sky in full down right HERE.
Ash Sarkar, "Jim Ratcliffe is a stinking hypocrite"
"He became a tax resident of Monaco to save £4 billion that could have gone towards British schools, the British NHS, towards British defence, instead he decided he wanted that money for his own pocket"
Featured Images — The Manc Group/Sky News (screenshot via YouTube)
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Oldham man given life sentence after attacking nurse with scissors at hospital
Emily Sergeant
A man from Oldham has been sentenced to life in prison after attacking a nurse with scissors when he was in hospital.
Romon Haque, of Yasmin Gardens in Oldham, previously pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article, before being additionally later found guilty of attempted murder, and he appeared at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court yesterday (11 February 2026) to receive his sentence.
The court heard how the attack took place at Royal Oldham Hospital on Saturday 12 January 2025, where at around 11:30pm, Haque asked a nurse for medication, who advised that she would come and see him shortly.
Haque then got out of his bed, walked over to where the nurse was stood, and pulled out a pair of scissors from his pocket. He subsequently stabbed her three times, resulting in serious injuries to her face, neck, and hands.
He was pulled away from his victim by staff members who intervened.
The victim was immediately given urgent medical treatment, and subsequently taken to intensive care following the attack.
Following his initial court appearance, Haque was deemed fit to stand trial, appearing at court in June and July last year, before his official sentencing took place this week.
In total, Haque was sentenced to 28 years – 22 of those being in prison, with an extra six years following on licence.
Speaking following Haque’s sentencing, Detective Sergeant Jennifer O’Brien, from the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) Oldham district, said: “This was a horrific, unprovoked attack on a woman who was simply doing her job for those in need in a hospital. I want to commend the bravery of those who intervened, and who prevented the situation from potentially being much more serious.
“Emergency workers should never face violence from the very people they are trying to help, and I am glad Haque is now behind bars following this vile incident.”
Emily Sergeant -
20th June 2022 
