"Were I a member of the RMT, for the first time in my life I would cross a picket line next Tuesday." Remember that quote from Ken Livingstone? He said it back in 2004 when he was mayor of London and the union had balloted for strike action.

I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Livingstone has changed his opinion on scabbing now that he is positioning himself as the left candidate in the mayoral selection race with the deeply impressive Oona King. It’s quite a substantial volte-face too. He appeared on Channel 4 news backing the RMT’s action and the Morning Star reports “London mayoral hopeful Ken Livingstone backed the strikers and highlighted that Mr Johnson had also given a "fantasy promise" to negotiate a no-strike deal with the capital’s transport unions and had "spectacularly broken" his election pledge to protect station staff from cuts.”

Is there any conclusion we can draw from this very welcome support for industrial action?

Surely it must be that when Livingstone was mayor the RMT membership had taken the collective head staggers and as a responsible public official he had to talk some sense into them. Or something like that.