HMRC staff launch lighting strikes

Privatisation fears have sparked lighting HMRC strikes today - and more action is planned for 31 January, the deadline for Britain's 7m self-employed to file their online tax returns.

Around 20,000 HMRC staff are walking out on their jobs for 30 minutes from 10am and again at 4.30pm this afternoon, as anger builds about HMRC job outsourcing and accusations of creeping privatisation increase.