Tube drivers striking 'as they can't afford house in London' on £72k

Tube drivers are striking because they cannot afford a house in London on their £72,000 salaries, according to a union boss.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union are taking part in a six-day walkout between Sunday and Friday which has paralysed Tube services.

As it entered its fourth chaotic day on Wednesday, Eddie Dempsey, the general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union gave a surprising reason for the strikes in an interview with Times Radio.

Asked whether drivers were well-paid, he said: 'Well you can't afford to buy a house in London, even on £72,000.

'I think workers should be able to afford to live in London. And if the average house price, if you've got to be earning more than £100,000 to buy a house in London, £72,000 is not out of this world.'