Tube drivers are to go on strike on Budget day next month in what will be seen as an effort to overshadow Jeremy Hunt's Spending Review.

The drivers will strike on March 15, the Aslef union said.

They are striking in a dispute over pensions and working arrangements. Tube workers last went on strike on November 10.

The Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, is due to set out his Spending Review when he delivers the Budget to parliament on March 15 as he comes under growing pressure to cut taxes and boost public sector pay.

Aslef said drivers voted almost unanimously for industrial action, with 99pc of the 77pc of drivers who voted in favour of striking.

Test train and engineering train drivers on the London Underground also voted to walk out.

Aslef’s Finn Brennan said: “The size of these 'Yes' votes, and the large turnouts, show that our members are not prepared to put up any longer with the threats to their working conditions and pensions. We understand that TfL faces financial challenges, post-pandemic, but our members are simply not prepared to pay the price for the government’s failure to properly fund London’s public transport system.

“Cuts to safety training have already been forced through and management is open that they plan to remove all current working agreements under the guise of “modernisation” and “flexibility” and to replace the agreed attendance and discipline policies. Proposals to slash pension benefits are due to be announced in the next week.”