RAIL union leader Manuel Cortes branded Boris Johnson’s administration a “zombie government” today, saying that it has gone “missing in action” amid the cost-of-living crisis and strikes by workers across the country.

Mr Cortes, general secretary of white-collar transport union TSSA, said that with the Prime Minister on holiday and the candidates to replace him, Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, busy bickering among themselves, the government stands idle.

Thousands of TSSA members are to strike on August 18 and 20 in defence of pay, job security and conditions.