Danny Alexander: UK can ill afford strike over pensions

A mass public sector strike planned for next week could cost the UK economy £500m - which is "a loss we can ill afford", Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander has claimed.

He said the £500m figure was a "reasonably worst case scenario" - based on the impact of all members of the unions who balloted over strikes not turning up to work.

It also took into account the knock-on effect on the private sector, such as parents who had to find childcare.

More than two million workers are expected to join the walkout on 30 November, despite months of negotiations over public sector pensions.