RMT Strikes: Impact on Businesses

Baroness Deech Excerpts

Tuesday 28th April 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

It is a very interesting dispute. ASLEF is on record saying that it finds the dispute bizarre because of its nature in terms of proposing a voluntary scheme that is not going to be enforced. I hope the discussions will get underneath the issues that the noble Lord mentions. Of course, our sympathies go out to people who are particularly affected, as he mentioned, by such action. That is why it is so important that we get industrial relations on the right footing in this country, and I am delighted to say that we are in the process of doing that.

[Baroness Deech (CB)]

The immediate mitigation of a tube strike is that people take the bus, or they try to take the bus, but the Mayor of London is going to remove all the buses from the most famous high street of all, namely Oxford Street, to the great detriment of shoppers and tourists with a knock-on effect throughout the London bus network. If it is not too late, can the Government call in this decision? If there is any further attempt to extend it, will the Government call it in to stop further pedestrianisation and the blocking of Oxford Street in the interests of business and visitors?

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

To relate a small story to the noble Baroness, when I first became an elected councillor, there were proposals to pedestrianise the centre of Leeds, where I am from, and people were predicting that the sky would fall in and there would be queues right back to the M1. It has led to the city absolutely thriving. People will find other ways of getting where they need to go. I think putting pedestrians first is a very interesting and encouraging step forward, and I am sure, when it is successfully implemented, the shops will be very grateful that he has taken the initiative.