ASLEF president Tosh McDonald told the train driver union’s annual conference yesterday that the fight back against the Tories starts now.

In a speech at Southend’s Park Inn hotel, he said that SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon got more votes for the Tories than her own party.

He said that Ms Sturgeon was “a credit to the SNP” but added that “the Tories played a game of fear and the people in England fell for their divisive game, that they played well.

“People in Scotland turned to the SNP because Labour wasn’t bold enough. Labour didn’t stand against austerity, Labour stood for austerity-lite.”

Nonetheless, Mr McDonald thanked every member who fought for a Labour government.

“We failed this time but we have five years to regroup and have another go,” he stated.

“We have the industrial strength and industrial muscle to deliver the goods.”