British transport secretary Grant Shapps has condemned planned rail strikes as a “huge mistake” that will stop people from attending hospital appointments, sitting school exams or getting to work. The action this week comes as British airports experience chaotic delays and last-minute cancellations and as many Britons also face a huge backlog at the office which processes passports. It also highlights pressures on British households, which are experiencing the biggest cost-of-living squeeze since the 1950s, with rail workers saying they are facing cuts in the value of their pay at a time when inflation is spiralling. Responding to criticism that the government should step in to try to force an agreement and prevent a strike, Shapps said on Sunday it was for the employers to negotiate with […]