The British government is considering using the military to help keep public services running if key workers, including those in the state-run National Health Service, go on strike, according to the chairman of the ruling Conservative Party.

“Our message to the unions is to say ‘this is not a time to strike, this is a time to try and negotiate’. But in the absence of that, it is important for the government… to have contingency plans in place,” Nadhim Zahawi told Sky News.

“We’re looking at the military, we’re looking at a specialist response force… surge capacity,” he said, adding that the military could be brought in to drive ambulances.