HOW common is it for prominent radio or TV personalities to distance themselves from the usual Establishment cant about strikes and suggest that strikers might have a case?

The fact that LBC talk show host James O’Brien has caused a stir over his comments on the united strike action by transport unions on the London Underground confirms the rarity of his stance.

Even when commentators restrain themselves from going the whole hog about “trade union militants holding the country to ransom,” they usually resort to one-sided references to the public facing “transport chaos” because of union walkouts without considering what caused the dispute.