Strike-a-rama<br />

So there we have it: talks between the BA management and Unite have collapsed, and the strike is back on for midnight tonight.  Throw in the news that railway workers have also voted in favour of strikes, and it looks like there will be more transport trouble ahead.

Politically-speaking, the government won’t enjoy operating against a backdrop of industrial unrest as the election approaches.  Sure, last year’s postal strikes had no discernible effect on the polls.  But, this time around, the Brown premiership has closer ties with the striking party – and those ties are already front-page news.  Involving Charlie Whelan in Labour’s election campaign is now looking like an even more toxic manoeuvre.