The right of a worker to withdraw their labour is a basic human right and a fundamental part of a democratic society. It is one of the few means by which working people can push for what they want and need.

To require minimum service levels during strikes would completely disregard this right and plunge both the workers and employers into a legal and ethical quagmire. Fundamentally, if someone chooses to withhold their labour, how can the Government force them to provide it?

At the moment, the Government is suggesting that unions would be sued if their workers chose not to provide the minimum service levels required by the legislation. However, this doesn’t account for non-union workers who also have the right to withdraw their labour, or the fact that unions would quite possibly win this legal action. The right to strike is protected under the European Convention on Human Rights, so the courts could find in the unions’ favour.

Much like with the Rwanda deportation policy, the Government is not willing to fulfil a basic role of governing, and has instead turned to a headline-grabbing, draconian, inhumane and unworkable policy to fill its place.

I can assure you that my Opposition Colleagues and I will strongly oppose this anti-worker legislation when it is presented to Parliament, and I am pleased that the Leader of the Opposition has already said that a Labour Government would repeal it. Unlike the Government, we will continue to respect and support the right to strike.