YORK MP Hugh Bayley today blasted his union critics who claimed he should have joined them on the picket line.

Mr Bayley faced criticism from members of The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) who were "disappointed" he did not support them at the start of yesterday's 48-hour conductors strike over pay and conditions.

Senior officials at the York branch felt Mr Bayley, an RMT member, should have attended a picket at York Station.

In an interview with the Evening Press last week, Mr Bayley called on both sides to settle the dispute amicably

Today he said: "I have fought long and hard for additional Government investment in the railways and will continue to ask, but I do not take sides in an industrial dispute.

"Problems have to be solved between the two parties involved."

Mr Bayley also denied union claims that he was an RMT-sponsored MP.

He said: "The RMT, like a number of companies and unions, makes a contribution to the Labour Party, but not to me directly.

"The rules of Parliamentary privilege would prevent me from supporting any body if they paid me a fee. It is my job to represent all my constituents equally, rail passengers and rail workers alike."

We apologise for our Comment article in Wednesday's Evening Press in which we stated that Mr Bayley was out of the country on the eve of the rail strike.

In fact he was in Brussels on Tuesday, but by Wednesday was back at work in the House of Commons where he made three speeches.

Updated: 10:21 Friday, January 25, 2002