The Spanish general strike left Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith delayed and angry at Luton airport

Mr Duncan Smith had hoped to catch a plane to Spain for talks with fellow centre-right political leaders.

It's got to stop and I'll be saying as much to those political leaders I hope to meet in Spain

Iain Duncan Smith

A visibly annoyed Mr Duncan Smith told BBC News that he was still hoping to attend the summit in Madrid and that aides were trying to charter a plane.

But his plans could well be "blown out the water".

He said that even if he got to Spain there was a danger he would get stranded there.

"I am told they might find a slot out but my worry is as much about getting back tonight because I want to watch the match tomorrow," he said.

A raft of cancellations have occurred as air traffic controllers and other ground crew crucial to safety walked out on Thursday.

An estimated 80,000 Britons could be affected by the 24-hour strike.

About 400 flights to Spain have already been cancelled and there are likely to be knock-on delays for travel to the Canary Islands.

Political statement?

Mr Duncan Smith said: "The reality is that this has got to stop.

"People have worked hard, saved hard to go on their holidays and now are looking at losing days possibly even a week just because somebody has decided it is a good time to make a political statement.

Controllers are protesting over a 'single sky' policy

"It's got to stop and I'll be saying as much to those political leaders I hope to meet in Spain and the Spanish prime minister [Jose Maria Aznar]."

The Spanish strike is in protest at government-imposed changes to state unemployment benefits.

Spain has 11.3% unemployment, the highest rate in the European Union, but the reforms will make it more difficult for people without jobs to qualify for benefit.

The strike threatens to shut down most of the country just as EU leaders are gathering in Seville for the final summit of the Spanish presidency.