Mick Lynch has announced he is to retire as General Secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT).

       He said in a statement published on Thursday (January 9) that he felt incredibly proud to have served the union both as a rank-and-file member and elected officer.

       Mr Lynch, 63, added: "It has been a privilege to serve this union for over 30 years in all capacities, but now it is time for change.

       "This union has been through a lot of struggles in recent years and I believe it has only made it stronger despite all the odds.

       "There has never been a more urgent need for a strong union for all transport and energy workers of all grades, but we can only maintain and build a robust organisation for these workers if there is renewal and change."

       He said all members can be be proud the union stood up against wholesale attacks on the rail industry by the previous government and that "the union defeated them".

       The firebrand leader added: "RMT will always need a new generation of workers to take up the fight for its members and for a fairer society for all and I am immensely proud to have been part of that struggle."

       READ MORE Starmer has just served trade union bosses the entire UK economy on a plate

       The RMT said the search for a new General Secretary will conclude in the first week of May, with Mr Lynch remaining at the helm until his successor is chosen.

       Mr Lynch has held a number of posts in the RMT after working in the construction industry for many years before being illegally blacklisted for joining a union.

       He became General Secretary in 2021, inflicting a series of crippling strikes on rail travellers in disputes over pay in the past two years.

       A walk out by RMT members at Avanti West Coast in a dispute over rest day working caused misery for travellers faced with disrupted services on New Year's Eve. More walkouts are planned.

       Mr Lynch became a familiar face during the RMT strikes of 2022-24, with frequent appearances on the BBC, Sky News, ITV and others. He has also been a regular panellist on BBC Question Time.

       Don't miss...

       The huge new ￡2.2bn tunnel under river in major UK city set to open in months [REPORT]

       Europe's best train journey that covers two countries and only costs ￡30 [REVEALED]

       People only just realising what blue light on London Underground trains means [INSIGHT]

       Before becoming General Secretary, Mr Lynch was Assistant General Secretary at the RMT.

       He developed a reputation as a firebrand union leader in part by publicly criticising former Mayor of London and Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

       He slammed Mr Johnson's suggestion that driverless trains should be a condition for funding Transport for London services.

       The rail union baron hit the headlines numerous times, including a clash with broadcaster Piers Morgan for attacking him over his use of an image of The Hood from the children's TV show, Thunderbirds, as his Facebook profile picture.

       Former Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, accused Mr Lynch of being the "Grinch" and trying to "steal Christmas" in a row sparked by strike action over the Christmas period.

       In 2023, he criticised plans to close railway station ticket offices, telling a Commons committee it would lead to people avoiding train travel at night besides impacting the elderly and disabled.

       The Cork City fan has said previously that his political hero is the Scots-born Irish republican and trade union leader, James Connolly.

       RMT deputy, Eddie Dempsey, has been tipped to replace Mick Lynch at the top of the union.

       Mr Dempsey hit the headlines in 2022 after it emerged he lived in a council flat despite earning a six figure salary.

       Neighbours at the time accused him of blocking needier people from having a home in the North London block where he lived with his family.

       Mr Lynch rushed to his defence, telling the Mail you don't have to be poor to live in council housing.

       The same publication reported that in the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin's 2014 invasion of Crimea, Ukraine, Mr Dempsey visited the breakaway Donbas region.

       An image shows him with warlord Aleksey Mozgovoy, a commander of the so-called Ghost Brigade of pro-Russian separatists.