During a heated debate on the upcoming rail strikes, shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh accused the secretary of state Grant Shapps of “acting directly from P&O’s playbook” in trying to replace striking rail staff with agency staff.

Shapps criticised Labour and its leader Keir Starmer on the lack of clarity of their position on the strike, telling the House of Commons that he is playing “real life twister”.

Haigh responded to this critique by telling the House that “no one in the country wants these strikes to go ahead”. But called on ministers to “step up” to put a stop to them.