having now heard what he said in context, its very clear he was speaking tongue in cheek. he wasn't speaking about strikers he was talking about people who worked at the BBC out to be shot, People who didn't work for a living, Please note he works at the BBC as well, the implication was that he was including himself. he actually said was really enjoying the day, how easy it was to get around London, reminded him of his childhood in the seventies. He was speaking with a barbed tongue but it very clear he was assuming that no one would take him literally.

As someone pointed out on the today programme this morning, its a perfect storm. Lots of media get to talk about him. the strikers get sympathy and he gets a lot of airplay and sell a lot of his latest DVD.

He also has apologised for what he said, when he realised what he had said: was being taken out of context