Political editor Paul Francis gives his opinion on how Kent will cope with the strikes

In any industrial dispute, there comes a time when some kind of deal is presented that aggrieved workers will sign up to.

The question then becomes one of timing and one of how both sides can claim it to be acceptable without losing face.

As Kent is gripped in the midst of walkouts by NHS staff, railway workers, Border Force staff, university lecturers and council employees and - to come - teaching staff - is public sympathy going to force the government’s hands?

Or will public sympathy, in time, eke away as frustrations mount over the inability to get to work, school or for a crucial hospital appointment.

The inconvenience factor is a powerful force and one card that industry bosses call on when the chips are down.

But no-one can say with certainty which side public sentiment will fall: in favour of more strike action or less?

The tolerance threshold in Kent and support for the workers both seem high at the moment.

This might be because the county is used to disruption; on roads if Operation Brock is triggered; on trains if there is blockage at Eurotunnel and on water if ferry services fall foul of the weather.

Those who drive past an NHS picket and give them a blast from the horn are deploying a modern-day tool in the industrial dispute armoury.

A cheery beep has its detractors, of course and is an irritant in a more complex world where it is not just working hours at stake.

The government’s position is one in which it claims neutrality over reconciling the two sides. Does anyone believe that?

The very fact that it has unveiled plans to limit the right to strike through new legislation can hardly be a co-incidence.

The plan has inevitably been challenged by trade unions who have gone to court arguing they are dangerous because they could endanger public safety if inexperienced agency staff are required to fill safety critical roles.

Don’t expect a decision to be quick: the court hearing is likely to be in March.

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