Watford politicians react to Sunak's anti-strike law plans

Rishi Sunak is reportedly planning to make strikes illegal if minimum service levels are not met – which could see employers able to fire staff and sue unions.

It comes amid ongoing action in public sectors such as the NHS and transport over pay, safety and working conditions. 

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Tory MP Dean Russell told Watford Observer he “values public workers” but supports the new legislation.

He said: “There is no doubt that the recent wave of strikes has seriously impacted working people across the country, making it impossible for some to get to work and others to run their businesses.

Dean Russell

“The strikes have damaged the economy at a time where the government is trying to do all it can to bring inflation down.”

Mr Russell added that he believed the proposals are balanced to ensure key public services “maintain a basic function and deliver minimum safety levels whilst protecting the right to strike”.

But Watford’s Labour and Liberal Democrat leaders are against Mr Sunak’s move.

Matt Turmaine, Watford Labour’s parliamentary candidate, said: “Sunak’s proposals are a distraction from [the Tories’] appalling track record in government.”

Matt Turmaine (Image: Watford Labour)

Mr Turmaine took aim at the Prime Minister himself, adding: “A multi-millionaire Prime Minister is telling hard-working people that they cannot have a proper pay rise in the worst cost-of-living crisis our country has seen since the Second World War.

“They’ve now gone from clapping to sacking our key workers.”

And Watford’s Lib Dem mayor, Peter Taylor, said the Mr Sunak's “priorities are all wrong” and the new legislation will “effectively criminalise our hard-won right to strike”.

Peter Taylor and Ian Stotesbury (Image: Peter Taylor and Ian Stotesbury)

He added: “Instead of grandstanding, the government should be sorting out the mess they have made of our economy and public services.”

And Liberal Democrat Cllr Ian Stotesbury called for Mr Sunak said “these proposals by Sunak should be opposed at every level”.

He added: “It's abhorrent that a government, run by an unelected PM, following an unelected PM, whose failures have driven a cost-of-living crisis and dangerous staffing levels in our NHS, think to limit the right to strike.”