Mick Lynch, general secretary of the RMT rail union, said the UK Government's anti-strike laws are "an attack on civil rights" at a protest in Whitehall on Monday night (January 16). The second reading of the bill is takes place in Parliament on Monday. Lynch was speaking at an RMT-organised emergency demo. Lynch said: "We’re here to protest against the anti-strike laws that have started going through Parliament tonight on a second reading, which are attack on civil rights, on union rights. … This government, having lost the argument on pay and austerity, because they can’t win the argument, they’ve changed the rules of the match. They’re 2-0 down at half-time and they’re giving themselves a lift-up. He added: "I’m glad to see so many people come out at short notice at this demonstration."