by business editor Trevor Sturgess

The Government wants to avoid a war with trade unions but will consider new laws if this week's strike is followed by persistent industrial action, the Business Secretary has told Kent bosses.

Vince Cable said yesterday at Leeds Castle that it was taking a tough line on public sector pensions and insisted on reform. It had made a "reasonable" offer and there would be no "backing off."

He thought that after "having their day" on Wednesday, the unions would knuckle down and accept change.

"But if the country is brought to a halt by persistent strikes, we will have to look again at strike legislation," Mr Cable said at a meeting of the Kent branch of Institute of Directors.

"There are people out there in the trade unions who would love a punch-up with the government, they'd love a fight.

"The Bob Crows [firebrand RMT general secretary] of this world see a revolutionary situation, they'd love to get everybody out with barricades and riots on the streets. We're trying to avoid rising to the provocation, but just deal with it calmly."

He accepted that businesses and the wider public would be "messed around" on Wednesday. "The natural instincts are to rise to the bait, but although that's tempting, we don't think that's the cleverest thing to do."

Unions claim the strike is essential to protect public sector pensions. A recent poll suggests it has the backing of two-thirds of the population.