A blow against bullies

With grotesque hyperbole, Aslef’s Mick Whelan says planned union reforms smack of hitler’s executions in the 1930s while Unite’s Len McCluskey tears up his union’s pledge to act within the law.

yet you’ll find no death squads or prison camps in tomorrow’s Bill. All that’s proposed is a minimum turnout for strike ballots of 50 per cent, while walkouts in core public services will be banned if they are backed by fewer than four in ten eligible to vote.

Elsewhere, they include modest curbs on picketing, a right for agency workers to cover for strikers and an end to seizing cash for Labour from union members without their permission.

true, the tories’ own funding practices need reform. But these measures strike a long- overdue blow for the mass of the public, struggling to get the economy back on its feet, against a bullying minority. As Dominic Sandbrook argues compellingly on this page, the tories must muster all their guts and gumption to pass them into law as soon as possible. FrEE nurseries for disadvantaged two-year-olds… the ‘pupil premium’ to help poorer children catch up… free school meals for all infants… three policies, with two things in common: 1) they’ve all proved expensive fiascos; and 2) they were all masterminded by Nick Clegg. What a relief he’s gone. yEStErDAy, this paper praised harriet harman for saying Labour would not oppose limiting tax credits to families’ first two children born after 2017. But barely was the print dry on our congratulations before she reversed her decision. Still, 24 hours is something of a record for Miss harman, when it comes to talking sense.