THE government was accused by rail union RMT of deploying “dead cat” distraction tactics today, after announcing that Northern could be stripped of its rail franchise on the day that train fares rose by an average of 2.7 per cent.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps today said it was “absolutely the case” that Northern is unfit to run rail services and that he has begun the parliamentary process to find a new operator.

Some 30 protests against the price hike were held by RMT members across the country today, including with the union’s general secretary Mick Cash outside King’s Cross in central London.