The dinosaurs are back in town. The RMT rail union is about to bring London to a standstill again, inflicting misery on millions. Their bone-headed leader, Bob Crow, was sunning himself in Egypt when his militants tried to ruin the city’s new year celebrations. He’s dragged himself back from the pool to oversee the latest re-run of the 1970s.

A year ago, London Underground agreed a deal with the RMT that gave tube staff a 35 hours week and 52 days leave a year. Crow has now torn up that agreement, to create the usual new year strike chaos.

The gullible might swallow the union’s protest that they are fighting to maintain safety on the underground network. But that argument is nonsense: the underground is also facing wildcat action in support of a driver alleged to have broken a speed limit by 20mph.

Yet more evidence that Britain’s public services need urgent action to drag them into the 21st century. It’s time to break the power of the dinosaur unions once and for all.