Junior doctors have lifted all threat of strike action and pledged to work with the Government to help introduce a controversial new contract.

The union made the climbdown after a series of debacles and warring between medics who oppose the new deal.

It follows the resignation of the head of the union’s junior doctors’ committee (JDC) last weekend, after only being in the post for four months.

The BMA had already cancelled a string of strikes planned this winter, amid warnings from medics that the plans were too dangerous.

But that decision met a furious backlash from junior doctors, who said the union was presiding over a “toothless omnishambles”.