A union boss behind rail strikes that have brought misery to millions of commuters has warned that his members will “just break the law” if ministers bring in new anti-strike legislation.

Fifty Conservative MPs yesterday called for Theresa May to bring in new laws to force unions to allow a skeleton service during strikes such as those that have paralysed Southern Rail over the past months.

But Steve Hedley, the assistant general secretary at the RMT, which represents Southern conductors, described striking rail workers as “absolute heroes” and said that tougher laws were “not going to happen”.