On the day that secret plans for the alleged axing of thousands of crucial tube jobs was leaked by the TSSA union, RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: “RMT has warned that the Government cuts of 12.5% to TFL budgets would result in thousands of job losses and now the numbers are being confirmed we are prepared to ballot across the Capital for strike action in defence of jobs and services.

“RMT is already balloting the first group of staff hit by these plans, the guards on London Overground, and we will have no hesitation in widening the franchise and people should understand that the result would be a complete shutdown if the Government and Boris Johnson don’t back off.

“Closing ticket offices and hacking back the other station and on-train grades would turn the tube and rail in London into a death trap with kids in buggies jammed in gates and passengers who need assistance left to fend for themselves. The whole plan for £2 billion of London transport cuts must be met with industrial and community resistance to push it back.”