Sam Tarry, a Labour MP, provoked Sir Keir Starmer, the party’s leader, into firing him today in a dispute over his support for striking workers, by joining him on another picket line alongside his predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn.
The Ilford South MP joined members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) and the exiled former party leader in central London, telling striking BT employees that it was “wonderful to be back.”
After joining the RMT rail workers’ strike, which paralysed Britain, Mr. Tarry, the boyfriend of Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner, lost his job as a shadow transport minister on Wednesday.
It has generated a vehement argument between the party hierarchy and the unions.
Militant bosses have threatened to stop funding the party and to use their influence to change party rules in order to pressure Labour to support workers who are organising a summer of unrest.
The behaviour of the Labour leadership, according to CWU general secretary Dave Ward, was “disgraceful.”
However, Sir Keir has stated that the opposition should stay away from the strikes in order to be considered fit to form a government.
In a series of appearances with the media last night, he defended his “straightforward” dismissal of Tarry for violating the concept of joint responsibility and inventing policy.
Mr. Tarry expressed surprise at his departure to Sky News today.
Mr. Tarry said the Labour Party needs to be clear that they will defend workers’ rights to the hilt and enhance their rights in the workplace when thousands of BT and Openreach workers are on strike over pay.
We need a Labour leadership that will speak up and not turn a blind eye when BT employees visit food banks, he said.
Let’s be crystal clear, he continued, “The Labour Party’s statement that we probably won’t be able to provide you a salary increase in step with inflation is not good enough, it is not good enough.”
Because doing so indicates that the Labour Party intends to reduce people’s real wages, which is completely unacceptable.
People need to truly consider what the Labour Party stands for if I’m fired for saying that on live television while not supposed to be on that picket line, he continued.
“Because for me, the name Labour contains the key. In favour of the working class.
The “moment to fight back” and “reclaim our party” was now, he continued, since “things were changing.”
Unions and the party’s left flank were incensed by the firing of Mr. Tarry.
The actions of the Labour leadership, according to CWU general secretary Dave Ward, are disgraceful. We’ll have to handle that.
People “won’t accept that Labour wants to win an election without any principles or any policies, and I think what will happen is that people will see through Labour unless they change their position,” the author predicts.
“Labour are in a position now that I think they’ve laid out their path,” he continued. The route we take is different from this one.
John McDonnell, a former shadow chancellor for Labour, called it a “serious error,” charged Sir Keir with “misreading the mood of the public,” and supported calls for a general strike.
The MP for Hayes and Harlington said on Sky News: “This is a completely unnecessary row that’s been invented just at a time when the Tories are tearing themselves apart, and I think we’ve got the maximum opportunity to gain an advantage in the polls that will build the support to take us into a government.”
Whoever gave Keir Starmer advice on this, in my opinion, he made a grave error. This is an unnecessary dispute.
I believe they misread the sentiment within the labour and trade union movement, he continued.
However, I also believe that they were misreading the public’s mood.
When asked about Mick Lynch’s call for a general strike, the former shadow minister said he supported “coordinated action.”
When asked if he would support a general strike if Liz Truss follows through on her promise to crack down on the unions should she become prime minister, Sir Keir responded that it was “quite right” for trade unions to “stick up for their members.”
The Labour leader told reporters that Ms. Truss’s approach was “absolutely incorrect” and added, “Of course, trade unions are right to stick up for support and negotiate on behalf of their members.
Working with our trade unions is something I wholeheartedly endorse.
Unions, Labour MPs, and other party members have criticised the firing of Mr. Tarry, who is dating deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner.
Greater Manchester’s Labour mayor, Andy Burnham, cautioned the party to exercise “carefulness” lest it end up undermining those who are “fighting to protect their incomes.”
“Labour needs to be careful here,” he told GB News.
We must ever be a party that discredits the efforts of working people who are trying to protect their salaries from rising costs of living.
We might come across that way if we’re not careful.
Former Labour leader and current independent MP Mr. Corbyn stated: “I believe it is the responsibility of Labour MPs to assist its affiliates.”
The CWU, an affiliated union, has asked for our assistance and support, which is why I’m present today.
Later, in response to the gathering, he said: “Our job is to bring everyone together in this battle for true social justice.
Socialism is a system where no one is left behind.