Frontbencher who refused five times to condemn illegal strikes

A LABOUR frontbencher refused to condemn illegal strikes five times yesterday.

Appearing on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, shadow justice secretary and lord chancellor Richard Burgon insisted the questions were ‘hypothetical’ – despite Unite chief Len McCluskey saying action over pay was ‘very likely’. Here we highlight some of Mr Burgon’s obfuscation and evasion.

JOHN HUMPHRYS: ‘If Unite goes on strike without hitting the 50 per cent threshold, would you support them?’

RICHARD BURGON: ‘I think the real issue here is the only lawbreakers there have been when it comes to worker-employer relations, are actually the Government, because ... the Supreme Court decided that the Ministry of Justice ... has been operating unlawfully with their employment tribunal fees.’

JH: ‘I’m asking you a completely different question though, I’m asking you whether you would support Unite breaking the law.’

RB: ‘We have got to understand that union members ... have had

pay cuts in real terms of up to 14 per cent in the last few years.

JH: ‘Let’s accept that is the case. What I am asking you is a very specific question ... whether, if Unite were to go on strike knowingly breaking the law as Len McCluskey has just posited, would you support them?’

RB: ‘ These are complete hypotheticals.’

‘No, they’re not, because Len McCluskey has raised it ... He answered a direct question ... and said yes he would consider going on strike. Even if it meant breaking the law. I am asking you, for the third time, whether you would accept that yourself?’

RB: ‘In relation to the question of turnout in strike ballots, what we have always been supportive of is encouraging as many people to vote as possible, including E-balloting…’ JH: ‘Nobody disputes that…’ RB: ‘And what a Labour government would do would be repeal the Trade Union Act…’ JH: ‘Yes, but you are not in government at the moment.’ RB: ‘They are seeking to stop trade unions from taking action, to stop ordinary people ... from suffering a 14 per cent pay cut in real terms.’

JH: ‘Yes, you’ve made that point... but I am inviting you to either support or condemn the threat that has been made by Len McCluskey. You seem unwilling to do that, either way.’

RB: ‘There isn’t any illegal strike action taking place, the only illegal…’

JH: ‘It is being threatened as you very well know. It is being threatened by Len McCluskey and I am asking you again, and I will give up in a minute, but let me just try once more, I am asking you again whether you would support that threat or not.’

RB: ‘I think the real issue is, rather than talking about…’

JH: ‘Alright…’