Good Morning Britain viewers urged Richard Madeley to "check history" after he shared fears on today's strike action.
Tuesday's edition of the ITV news programme covered the industrial action as around 40,000 railway workers have walked out in what is being called the "biggest rail strike in modern history". The action has been called and voted for by members of the Rail and Maritime Transport Workers Union (RMT), with staff from Network Rail and 13 train firms to walk out.
The union says the action is taking place because Network Rail plans to cut up to 2,500 jobs as part of a £2bn reduction in spending, with proposed job cuts including workers who maintain tracks, signals and overhead lines. RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said that railway workers have been "treated appallingly" and are facing either losing their jobs or accepting another pay freeze during a cost of living crisis.
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Network Rail boss Andrew Haines claimed "travel habits have changed and the railway must change as well." He added: "We cannot expect to take more than our fair share of public funds, and so we must modernise our industry to put it on a sound financial footing for the future. Failure to modernise will only lead to industry decline and more job losses in the long run."
Richard fronted the latest edition of Good Morning Britain alongside Ranvir Singh. The two were joined by commentators Grace Blakeley and Ed Vaizey to discuss the effectiveness of rail strikes.
The 66-year-old broadcaster came under fire after he drew parallels between the rail strike and the mining strike in the 1970s. Richard suggested the mining industry was "destroyed" by the strike and probed whether union bosses should be concerned the rail industry would go the same way.
He said: "Many analysts would say on left and right that the mining strike destroyed the industry. I think that's a fairly broadly accepted analysis."
Grace hit back at the claim and suggested it was Margaret Thatcher's policies that destroyed the industry. The commentator said: "She used the power of the British state to destroy the labour movement."
Viewers following the show on Twitter agreed with the commentator and urged Richard to "check history".
Kev said: "Suggest you check your history regarding the mines Madeley, strike or no strike the mines were being closed, the miners were screwed either way and had nothing to lose"
Paul added: "The NUM destroyed the mining industry according to @richardm56. Not the Thatcher Government who closed the pits, using the plan Nicholas Ridley had to build up coal stocks ahead of any action."
Scott posted: "Thatcher and her American/ScotsTory cohort Ian MacGregor killed the mining industry. The first U.K. victims of globalisation."
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV and the ITV Hub
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