The Natfhe general secretary, who has previously admitted the Government’s policies have led him to question his own Labour party membership, said the Government’s failure to settle the dispute betrayed the students his members teach.

Speaking to strikers in Westminster on Wednesday, he said: “We have argued patiently, we have written letters, we have lobbied, we have pleaded with this Labour Government to do something for the four million largely working-class people who attend FE colleges. These are Labour’s core voters, yet they seem to be ignored. The poverty pay for support staff is an utter disgrace.”

The strike, in pursuit of pay parity with school teachers, was the biggest ever in FE colleges.

It was estimated that 40 colleges were out of action entirely for the day, 60,000 people were on strike and 3.5 million students were affected. The AoC said it was the first time in 10 years that colleges had closed through strike action.

There were rallies in cities including London, Manchester, Nottingham, Birmingham, Norwich, Brighton and Newcastle and messages of support from other unions, including the Fire Brigades Union.

Dave Prentice, general secretary of Unison, striking in colleges for the first time, said: “Employers have clearly been rattled.”

Ivor Jones, employment policy director at the Association of Colleges, said: “Colleges put in place measures to minimise the disruption to students. It is regrettable that the strike on November 5 disrupted any student learning.”

“There is no additional money to fund this year’s pay negotiations beyond the association’s recommendation to FE colleges of 2.3 per cent or a flat rate of pound;400 to the lowest-paid support staff - equivalent to 5 per cent.”

The Association of Teachers and Lecturers, the TGWU and GMB were also involved in the strike.

Education secretary Charles Clarke is expected to make an announcement on FE funding at the AoC conference on November 19.