Frontbenchers defy Starmer’s strike diktat
Lisa Nandy and two other senior Labour members ignore leader’s order to stay away from picket lines
‘If I was speaking to Keir right now, I would say to him: which side are you on?’
SIR Keir Starmer was openly defied yesterday by three members of his front bench who ignored his diktat not to join workers on picket lines.
Lisa Nandy, the shadow levelling up secretary, a junior shadow minister and a party whip were all pictured with striking BT and Openreach workers on picket lines for the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU).
Their support for the industrial action was in defiance of an order from Sir Keir’s office to stay away, designed to distance the Labour Party from disruptive strikes ahead of a “summer of discontent” across the public sector.
Sources close to Ms Nandy said she had informed Sir Keir in advance she intended to ignore his instructions, adding: “She went down to show her support for people campaigning for better pay and conditions at a really tough time, as you’d expect.”
Navendu Mishra, a Labour whip, and Imran Hussain, a shadow employment minister, also joined pickets.
Mr Mishra was photographed holding a placard that read “official CWU picket line”, while Mr Hussain stood behind a CWU banner aimed at drivers that read “honk if you back us”.
Their rebellion came just five days after Sir Keir sacked Sam Tarry, a shadow transport minister, for giving a round of broadcast interviews from a Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers Union (RMT) picket and “making up policy on the hoof ”.
Labour insiders speculated that Mr Tarry, who is in a relationship with Angela Rayner, had defied Sir Keir’s orders in the hope of being sacked and winning favour among his local Labour Party, which is threatening to deselect him in advance of the next election. An ally of Mr Tarry denied that claim. The Ilford South MP has since called for a “fundamental recalibration” of the relationship between Labour and the unions and yesterday welcomed Ms Nandy’s decision to support CWU members in her constituency in Wigan.
“Senior Labour politicians need to demonstrate loud and clear that our party is on the side of ordinary working people who are fighting back against this anti-worker Government,” he said.
Although last night it appeared Sir Keir’s strike ban was no longer tenable, Labour sources said Ms Nandy’s visit had not been as serious as Mr Tarry’s because she did not conduct interviews from the picket line or speak out against Labour policy. It is unlikely disciplinary action will be taken against her.
Union bosses and MPS on the Left of the party have said Sir Keir must now “pick a side” and back specific strikes.
Sharon Graham, the leader of Unite, said: “If I was speaking to Keir right now, I would say to him: which side are you on? Because the reality is, if I closed my eyes, sometimes I wouldn’t know whether it was the Labour Party or the Tories who were speaking. I’m very disappointed – aghast, quite frankly – and I think it’s something Labour is going to have to think seriously about.”
The Left-wing campaign group Momentum said yesterday that the “partial u-turn on his picket line ban” was “simply not enough for Sir Keir to show that Labour is on the side of working people”.
BT and Openreach workers are striking nationally over a pay dispute after the CWU rejected a £1,500 pay increase for all workers. Dave Ward, the union’s general secretary, said: “We urge all sympathetic members of the public to attend picket lines in their area and chip in to help out others.”
It comes as Angela Rayner, the deputy Labour leader, confirmed she had held a meeting with Dave Ward, the general-secretary of CWU, via video call yesterday. They were joined by Lucy Powell, the shadow culture secretary, and Andy Kerr, Mr Ward’s deputy.
“BT made £1.3billion, gave £750million to shareholders, and handed their CEO a 32 per cent pay rise,” Ms Rayner wrote. “Time for them to get around the table with the CWU and agree a fair pay deal.”