Just a third of people back strikes as UK grinds to a halt

FEWER than four in 10 people support the railway strike, pollsters suggest.

According to a poll of 2,516 adults published by Yougov yesterday afternoon, only 37 per cent of people were supportive of the rail transport workers striking this week, while 45 per cent said they opposed it.

However, figures showed a divide between age groups. Two thirds of those over 65 opposed the action, while almost half – 48 per cent – of those aged between 18 and 24 supported it.

The poll also suggested a strong political split in support for the strike .

Two thirds – 65 per cent – of those who voted Labour in 2019 said that they supported the strike action, compared to just 18 per cent of those who voted Conservative.

In terms of the impact of travel disruption, just under a fifth, 18 per cent, reported experiencing changed or impacted journeys, while 76 per cent said they had not.

And three in five, 60 per cent, also said they were opposed to suggestions of closing manned ticket offices at most railway stations.

It comes as more disruption is expected today, as Network Rail warned that its services will be “thinner” than usual because of the knock-on effect of the industrial action. It added that some services will finish slightly earlier than normal.