A formal request for troops to drive ambulances during strike action could be made within days, Sky News understands.
After a formal request known as a MACA – or Military Assistance to the Civil Authorities – is made to the Ministry of Defence (MOD), training to drive ambulances would begin.
A decision from the Department of Health and Social Care could come as early as this weekend, government sources have told Sky News, who say the decision is “not far off”.
Service personnel have already been training at Heathrow and Gatwick to assist in checking passports at the border.
Elsewhere, in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, rail union leader Mick Lynch requested an urgent meeting in order to try and resolve long-running rail strikes.
With two 48-hour strikes planned to proceed on 13-14 and 16-17 December, as well as from 6pm on 24 December until 6am on 27 December, Mr Lynch said a…
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