We are now ending our live coverage of the announcement of new strikes by railway workers and ambulance teams. Here's a summary of what happened:

• It's been announced thousands of ambulance workers will take part in walkouts on 21 and 28 December - affecting all but one ambulance trust in England and Wales
• The action is co-ordinated by the unions GMB, Unison and Unite, who accuse the government of ignoring their requests for pay rises amid the rising cost of living
• The government accused the rail union RMT of "holding the country to ransom", after the RMT announced another strike on the railways running from the evening of 24 December to 27 December - on top of 48-hour strikes planned for 13-14 and 16-17 December, then 3-4 and 6-7 January
• RMT boss Mick Lynch apologised for the disruption that will be caused by the Christmas strike, but told the BBC the action was necessary as rail companies were planning to impose contractual changes on their workers in December

For more coverage of the strikes, here's a few other articles worth reading:

Ambulance staff to strike on 21 December

Rail union told not to hold country 'to ransom'

The strikes taking place in December

Today's writers were James FitzGerald, Andre Rhoden-Paul, Daniel Thomas, James Harness, Alexandra Fouche, Laurence Peter and Chris Giles.

The government is pushing ahead with plans to curb rail strikes by requiring minimum service levels on the railways, the prime minister's spokesman says.

The bill in question promises that transport networks will not be allowed to completely shut down as a result of industrial action. It was introduced to the Commons in October, and has been condemned by unions.

Rishi Sunak's spokesman confirms the plan is being taken forward "whether or not the unions step back from the planned disruption next week", though he acknowledges it will not be ready in time to prevent that disruption.

He blames the pandemic for the delay to the legislation, which was first promised in 2019.

The RMT's general secretary, Mick Lynch has been answering questions from callers on the Nicky Campbell show.

Paul in Whalley says rail strikes at Christmas time aren’t hurting the government or the train companies, but are "hurting ordinary people in the country that are trying to get to loved ones”.

Lynch says strikes in December are in response to the government pushing for changes by the end of the month.

Watch the clip above to hear the full exchange.

Scotland

RMT strikes are set to affect train services in Scotland.

The dispute does not involve Scot Rail staff, but it relies on striking Network Rail Scotland workers to operate signal boxes and maintain the track across the country.

Train operating company ScotRail, which is owned by the Scottish government, says it is still working out what the disruption means for its timetable.

In November, the RMT said most members will receive a 7-9% pay rise backdated to April after accepting an improved pay offer from ScotRail. There will also be no compulsory redundancies for six years.

Wales

RMT strike action in December and January will also affect the Welsh rail network.

Transport for Wales, a company owned by the Welsh government which operates all mainline services wholly within Wales, is not involved in industrial action.

But the RMT strikes means the train operating company will not be able run its services on Network Rail infrastructure and will cause "significant disruption".

More now on the government's response to a Christmas strike planned on the railways by the RMT union.

Downing Street has urged the union to seriously consider what it calls a "generous and fair" pay offer.

The prime minister's spokesman says the RMT is taking "further damaging action" and insists that the government has "facilitated the sort of offer it has been calling for".

He states that the package being offered contains no compulsory redundancies until 2025, as well as a 5% pay rise this year and 4% from January.

The RMT has pledged to put this offer to its members in an electronic referendum - but is calling for it to be rejected, describing it as "not acceptable".

Chris Mason
Political editor

I am picking up some chat about whether, in some sectors, the government might consider the case for some sort of one-off payment to some workers given the current rate of inflation.

But this could be a very tricky thing to make work. And, of course, could come with a cost.

Labour claims there is now a “militant government” unwilling to deal with what it is confronted by.

But industrial action, particularly on this scale, is awkward for Labour - you can already hear the verbal contortions they perform when they are asked whose side they are on.

Which brings us to public opinion.

When so, so many are struggling to cope with the cost of living and economic woe, where does sympathy lie?

Where does it end up - does it shift - as the disruption caused by such widespread industrial action becomes increasingly obvious?

And, in turn, where does that leave the government? And where does it leave the prospect of resolutions to these disputes?

Health Secretary Steve Barclay has said his “door is always open” for talks with the Royal College of Nursing over threatened strikes.

He told the House of Commons: "I have been clear with the trade unions I am available - I am available to see them this afternoon or tomorrow.

"There were a number of issues when I met with the trade unions that were raised; not only about pay but about safety of staff and conditions, the estate, tech and so forth.

"I am very willing to meet with trade unions on those points."

Labour's shadow health secretary, Wes Streeting, accused Barclay of "using nurses as a scapegoat for blame" over the strike, ahead of "the most difficult winter the NHS has ever faced".

Barclay also took a swipe at Streeting for raising the issue. Streeting has said he doubts he could meet the nurses' 19% pay rise demand, but would negotiate.

Let's tease out a little more detail now from some of those people who called in to put their points to RMT union boss Mick Lynch on BBC Radio 5 Live earlier.

Philip in Gateshead said his brother was due to travel from Leeds to Newcastle to spend Christmas with their dad who’s in a care home, but is now unable to do so because of the rail strikes.

He said: "They’re holding the country to ransom."

Philip believes “the tide has turned” in regards to people’s opinions on the railway strikes. “The people I spoke to yesterday have turned. They’re in favour of the NHS [strikes] and understand where they’re coming from, but in regards to the railway workers, they’re losing patience now,” he said.

He asked Lynch to “give [rail strikes] a break until the new year, give it time for people to sit back around the table again”.

Julie in Cardiff voiced support for the strikes, agreeing with Lynch that it was important to keep railway stations well staffed.

She described an incident in which her mother, who has dementia, was accidentally left on a train, leaving her father panicked as he tried to unpack bags from the carriage.

“There was no rail worker there to have a word with, but he managed to get hold of somebody," she recounted. "In the meantime my mother is on the train terrified travelling to the next station."

Julie says her concern is for disabled people “who are trying to get off a train... there’s nobody on the platform to help them”.

Despite the fact her 93-year-old father will be unable to travel over the Christmas period, she said her dad “supports the strike 110%, and so do I, because we want safety on the railways”.

She added that rail workers would "lose their jobs unless we stand up".

Image source, Getty Images

Some more government reaction now to the freshly announced Christmas rail strikes.

The RMT union "could not have chosen worse days" for industrial action, says Transport Minister Baroness Vere.

She told a travel conference in Westminster that it was "terribly disappointing" to see a fresh walkout planned from 18:00 on 24 December, through to 27 December.

She said industrial action "cannot continue forever", expressing hope for a speedy resolution as "there cannot be an open cheque book".

Rail union chief Mick Lynch defended the decision to go on strike in the run-up to Christmas, saying "if we don't do it the changes will be imposed on us".

Here is part of his interview on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Image source, Getty Images

We've been bringing you live coverage of fresh announcements of strikes by railway workers and ambulance teams. Here's a summary of what's been happening so far today:

• It's been announced that thousands of ambulance workers will take part in walkouts on 21 and 28 December - affecting all but one ambulance trusts in England and Wales
• The action has been co-ordinated by the GMB, Unison and Unite unions, who accuse ministers of ignoring their requests for pay rises to combat the soaring cost of living

• Earlier, the government accused the RMT union of "holding the country to ransom", after the RMT announced another strike on the railways running from the evening of 24 December to 27 December - on top of 48-hour strikes planned for 13-14 and 16-17 December, then 3-4 and 6-7 January
• RMT union leader Mick Lynch said he was sorry for the disruption that would be caused by the Christmas strike, but told the BBC that the action was necessary as rail companies were planning to impose contractual changes on their workers in December
• The long-running dispute is over pay, job cuts and working conditions. The latest walkout was prompted by the RMT recommending that its members reject the latest pay offer on the table - although Lynch told the BBC that a change to workers' terms and conditions was the "primary issue"
• Labour has accused the government of presiding over a "complete shambles" on the railways, by taking a "militant" approach and failing to resolve the impasse
• Industrial action of one sort or another is expected almost every day before Christmas, due to disputes across a wide range of sectors including nursing, teaching, and postal services.

Image source, .

Back to the rail strikes now - one academic has told us the government has the ability to step in and end the rail strikes now.

Dr Ashok Kumar, labour relations specialist at Birkbeck, University of London, was asked if it was the government pulling the strings, rather than Network Rail and train operating companies. He said: "Network Rail is an arms-length organisation of the government.

"In terms of the rail operators, it's baked into the contract how much can be given and how much can be taken, and ultimately it's signed off by the government.

"Whether it's entirely in the hands of the government I think is up for debate...

"Look, this is a natural monopoly. Over the last 10 years, you've seen a 36% increase in fares, over two years you saw £500m given to shareholders and you're seeing downward pressure on working conditions, so something's got to give and the government could step in and I think end this now."

Daniel Thomas
Business reporter, BBC News

We reported earlier the ambulance strike would involve workers from the GMB Union, but later learned that members Unison and Unite would also take part.

Unison says ambulance crews working for five NHS trusts in England - London, Yorkshire, the North West, North East and South West - will strike on Wednesday 21 December.

And Unite says more than 1,600 workers at the West Midlands, North West and North East ambulance service trusts will also strike on 21 December.

Taken with GMB strikes, it means tens of thousands of ambulance workers in 10 out of 11 ambulance trusts in England and Wales will be called on to take part in industrial action.

Nick Triggle
Health Correspondent

As we've just heard, ambulance staff across most of England and Wales will go on strike on 21 December in a dispute over pay.

The co-ordinated walkout by the three main ambulance unions - Unison, GMB and Unite - will affect non-life threatening calls only.

But it could mean people who have had trips and falls not being responded to.

It comes as Royal College of Nursing members are also preparing to go on strike on 15 and 20 December in parts of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The impact of the walkout will be patchy as Unison, which has twice the numbers of the other two unions combined, only has a strike mandate for half of England's 10 regional services.

The walkouts will involve paramedics as well as control room staff and support workers, with the military on standby to help out.

The only service which will be completely unaffected, however, is the East of England.

The full extent of the cover striking staff will provide has yet to be decided - detailed negotiations will take place between local ambulance bosses and unions ahead of the walkout.

Under trade union rules, life-preserving care has to be provided so the two highest category calls - covering everything from heart attacks and strokes to major trauma - will still be responded to.

Read more here.

More than 10,000 ambulance workers will walk out across England and Wales on 21 and 28 December, says the GMB union.

Paramedics, emergency care assistants, call handlers and other staff will take part in the following trusts:

• South West Ambulance Service
• South East Coast Ambulance Service
• North West Ambulance Service
• South Central Ambulance Service
• North East Ambulance Service
• East Midlands Ambulance Service
• West Midlands Ambulance Service
• Welsh Ambulance Service
• Yorkshire Ambulance Service

Workers voted to strike after the government offered a 4% pay award.

GMB National Secretary Rachel Harrison said: "After 12 years of Conservative cuts to the service and their pay packets, NHS staff have had enough.

“The last thing they want to do is take strike action, but the government has left them with no choice."

Image source, EPA

Just to recap, rail workers at 14 train companies and Network Rail have announced plans to walk out at 18:00 on Christmas Eve until 06:00 on 27 December.

This is on top of previously announced strikes across four 48-hour periods including:

• 13-14 December
• 16-17 December

• 3-4 January
• 6-7 January

About 40,000 rail workers are expected to walk out, with disruption likely in the days around the strikes due to trains not being in the right places.

Read more here.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is meeting his cabinet today amid fresh strike announcements which could disrupt many people's plans over the Christmas period.

The government argues it is facilitating talks to try and solve the dispute - despite the RMT union and Labour claiming otherwise. The government says inflation-busting pay rises are unaffordable.

Minister Nick Gibb has accused the RMT of "holding the country to ransom".

He told the BBC: "It's very disappointing that the RMT think that the way to conduct these negotiations is through holding the country to ransom and affecting the Christmas plans [of] hundreds of thousands of people up and down the country."

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said it was "incredibly disappointing" the strikes were going ahead despite a "new and improved deal offering job security and a fair pay rise”.

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner told BBC Breakfast that ministers must "urgently get round the table" to resolve the rail dispute and other pressing problems in the economy.

She says the rail system "is absolutely crumbling, without the strikes".

We've been hearing from people who've been getting in touch with us to share how the forthcoming rail strikes will affect them.

We want to hear from you!

Tell us how the strikes will affect your travel plans by tweeting @BBC_HaveYourSay, external.

You can also email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on +44 7756 165803.

Image source, PA Media

Thanks for joining us - here's a little look back at what's been going on so far this morning.

• The fallout continues after a fresh rail strike was called from 18:00 on 24 December until 27 December - in addition to walkouts already planned for 13, 14, 16 and 17 December, and 3, 4, 6 and 7 January
• The government urged the RMT union (which represents rail workers) not to "hold the country to ransom", after it recommended that its members reject the latest pay offer on the table
• Mick Lynch, the head of the RMT, said the timing of the action over Christmas was a "regret" but insisted that it was necessary.
• He said rail companies were set to impose contractual changes on their staff this month, and that this was the "primary issue"
• Government-owned firm Network Rail accused the RMT of "playing fast and loose with people's Christmas plans"
• Meanwhile, Labour has accused the "militant" government of failing to deal with the long-running dispute
• Lynch faced a range of views on a radio phone-in with BBC Radio 5 Live, being asked by one caller "how can you justify this?" but also receiving some messages from those who support the strikes
• Talks between the RMT and the Rail Delivery Group - which represents train companies - are being held today