Support rail strikers or face rejection, Starmer is warned

LEFT-WING colleagues have warned Sir Keir Starmer that the public will abandon Labour at the next election unless he supports public sector strikes.

The Labour leader yesterday said he supported the “right to strike” but stopped short of supporting the approaching industrial action on the railways that is set to bring Britain to a standstill.

Sam Tarry was sacked as shadow transport minister last week for joining the Rail and Maritime Union (RMT) on a London picket line and giving media interviews to back its call for a pay rise.

Sir Keir said Mr Tarry was sacked for making up Labour policy “on the hoof ”, but he has been told he does not understand that voters back the walkouts.

An influential MP on the Left of the party said: “People on the streets are saying ‘what the hell’s he doing?’ I don’t believe the public think the way he thinks. I’ve been on pickets for years and I’ve never seen such public support. It’s astonishing how many people are tooting their horns, putting their thumbs up saying ‘we support you’.

“Does he [Sir Keir] think that the way to victory is by rejecting the whole of Labour’s DNA? I don’t think that’s going to work very well.”

The latest polling, in June, showed that 35 per cent of the public support the strikes and the same proportion oppose them. Further action on the railways is expected on Aug 13, 18 and 20, with more strikes in other sectors anticipated later in the year.

Writing in the Sunday Mirror, Sir Keir said: “I completely understand why people are going on strike to secure better pay and better conditions. I support their right to do so.”

However, he stopped short of backing any specific industrial action and is expected to take further action against members of his front bench team who do so.