Commuters in London face a struggle getting to work this morning, as workers on the underground rail system stage the first of a series of strikes.

Travel will be disrupted across the city as unions fight job losses they claim will compromise safety.

800 jobs are threatened as the government prepares spending cuts to tackle Britain’s record budget deficit. The unions say it is the tip of the iceberg, but they’re being accused of politicking.

“I think they are doing it purely to make a political point,” said London Mayor Boris Johnson. “To poke the new government in the eye, and they are using London commuters as the utensil to do that.”

The shutdown of the network began last night and will run through until this evening. The unions fear more job losses are on the way, and have announced more 24-hour strikes between now and the end of November.

Londoners and tourists are being urged to use bikes, buses or boats to get around, or even try that old-fashioned method – walking.

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