The Liberal Democrats have accused the government of "sitting on its hands" and letting a looming national rail strike go ahead – to keep their activists away from a crucial by-election.
In a letter to Grant Shapps Sarah Olney, the party's transport secretary accused ministers of "playing games with people’s lives" to "help save" Boris Johnson.
The Conservatives are facing a crucial by-election test in Tiverton and Honiton after the resignation of Tory MP Neil Parish, who quit after admitting to watching pornography at work.
