A BRITISH minister sparked outrage after accusing union “militants” of “itching for a fight” as plans were being finalised for a strike by up to two million workers, ranging from lollipop ladies and refuse collectors to head teachers and nuclear physicists.

A strike by up to 750,000 teachers, civil servants and other public sector workers in the UK is set to go ahead after crunch talks with the Government today failed to end a bitter row over pensions and spending cuts.