Unite Suspends Angela Rayner and Threatens to Abandon Labour
Angela Rayner has been suspended by Unite the union over the Birmingham bin strike, with the union, one of Labour’s biggest backers, also announcing it will review its relationship with the party. The Telegraph has more.
Unite, one of Labour’s biggest financial backers, voted on Friday to suspend the Deputy Prime Minister, accusing her of backing a council that had “peddled lies”.
The union’s conference voted to “discuss our relationship with Labour”, which could trigger a formal split between the two organisations and a financial crisis for Sir Keir Starmer.
Ms Rayner’s membership was suspended for “bringing the union into disrepute” over her stance on the bin strikes. Her suspension, and those of other officials, will be followed by a formal investigation with a “view to expelling them from the union”.
Unite said its conference had voted “overwhelmingly” in favour of Ms Rayner’s suspension. She is a former representative at Unison, another major Labour union.
The decision was taken at the union’s policy conference in Brighton. Members voted to condemn Labour-run Birmingham council over its role in bin strike negotiations, and Sir Keir’s Government for “attacking the bin workers”. John Cotton, the council leader, and some Labour councillors, have also had their memberships suspended by Unite.
Birmingham bin workers are striking over pay cuts of up to £8,000, but the council has been accused of “fire and rehire” tactics to break the strike and keep wages down.
Ms Rayner has urged them to accept a pay deal offered by the council in order to end the “misery and disruption” caused to residents in Birmingham.
Sharon Graham, Unite’s General Secretary, said: “Unite is crystal clear that it will call out bad employers regardless of the colour of their rosette. Angela Rayner has had every opportunity to intervene and resolve this dispute, but has instead backed a rogue council that has peddled lies and smeared its workers fighting huge pay cuts.
“The disgraceful actions of the Government and a so-called Labour council is essentially fire and rehire and makes a joke of the Employment Relations Act promises. People up and down the country are asking whose side is the Labour Government on and coming up with the answer ‘not workers’.”
Worth reading in full.
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I’d rather Labour suspended her.
“Unite said its conference had voted “overwhelmingly” in favour of Ms Rayner’s suspension.”
I think there’s very many non labour voters in the UK who would also welcome her suspension.
From a tree?
It’s funny you should say that. Under the news round-up this morning was this article: ““Heard the one about Rod Liddle and the police state?” – Brighton Council’s dullard Labour leader has reported Rod Liddle to the police over an obviously satirical column, writes Mick Hume in Spiked.”
Having read the Spiked article, I was quite careful what I wrote and completely changed my original wording that had referenced dancing the Tyburn Jig.
The current labour party and its apparatchiks seem to be – in the main – a bunch of humourless, totalitarian idiots; however, in conjunction with an overwhelmingly socialist judiciary, they have the ability to destroy people with their vindictiveness. Part of me thinks I’m being judicious, the other part, shamefully spineless. I’m also mindful that this is Toby’s site and that comments should not bring the blog into disrepute.
Lamppost.
From what structure?
I think Unite are entitled to their money back after all they paid Labour to do what they wanted.
I suspect this strike may end shortly. Following a root round the back of the sofa Our Ange found the lost £22 billion and as a result the Birmingham bin men will all be given wage increases plus back-pay for wages lost and a further bunce for hurty feelings.
As Ranting rides to the rescue her security as Deputy PM is confirmed and within twelve months she will take over from Kneel.
God rest our souls.
A wonderful photo of the Ginger Growler.
UK politics are about as boring as watching paint dry.
Socialists have form when it comes to in-fighting. It can get very nasty.