TORY ministers are responsible for the latest strike action to cripple Britain’s railways, transport union RMT warned yesterday.

Some 20,000 workers are set to down tools across 14 train-operating companies today after employer-body the Rail Delivery Group failed to table any new proposals in the long-running dispute over pay, jobs and working conditions.

The Department for Transport, which dictates the remit of bosses via their contracts, is continuing to “hamstring” them, the union said.

General secretary Mick Lynch said: “The government is not serious about settling this dispute, which is leading to further disruption for passengers.

“Rail operators are not being given a mandate to make a new offer that we can put to members.”

He also stressed that RMT’s campaign to save the national’s vital ticket offices will reach “new levels” with a massive rally outside Parliament next Thursday, ahead of another rail strike on September 2.

“Our members remain committed and have shown tremendous resolve in the face of a government that is playing politics and refusing to do a deal,” My Lynch added.