TORY ministers have declared war on working people, unions charged today after the government whipped its MPs to reject House of Lords amendments to its widely condemned anti-strikes Bill.

The legislation aims to empower bosses and even ministers to sack workers who refuse to cross their own picket lines and provide an as yet undefined minimum service level during walkouts in six sectors, including transport and education.

The Bill was savaged by peers, who passed several amendments, including removing the threat of dismissal from anyone refusing a “work order” and limiting the provisions to England only after devolved Labour and SNP ministers in Wales and Scotland respectively condemned it.