Ministers push Bill to curb public sector strike action

The Bill, which receives its Second Reading in the Commons tomorrow, introduces a 50% threshold for participation in strike ballots, stops union subscriptions being taken directly from wages, and introduces new restrictions on picketing.

Ms Eagle said: “I am dismayed that we have a Government which believes in attacking trade unions rather than working with them in the spirit of social partnership to improve efficiency, economic efficiency and productivity in our country”.

UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told the TUC in Brighton that a future Labour Government will repeal the legislation and accused the Government of “declaring war” on unions. However, he sees some measures as “draconian”, specifically citing the requirement for picketers to give their names to police.

The annual TUC Congress backed a co-ordinated protest across the country against the Trade Union Bill, amid claims ministers had made a “declaration of war” against workers.

New Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn sat silently behind the Labour despatch box during the initial exchanges, next to his new shadow business secretary Angela Eagle and close to shadow chancellor John McDonnell.

“Every fair-minded MP should vote against this”. “But when working people’s lives are being disrupted by strike action, it is only fair that this happens as a result of a contemporary mandate that is supported by the majority of trade union members”.

Where a strike concerns a core public service, 40pc of those eligible to vote would be required to back action – meaning that effectively 80pc of members would need to have voted in favour.

Mr Javid insisted the proposed laws were the natural next stage of evolution in trade union law.

Steve Turner, the TUC’s global spokesman, will tell delegates: “We hope that Cameron’s efforts to weaken workers’ rights will fail but if they do not, we are issuing a warning to the prime minister: you will lose our members’ votes to stay in the European Union, by worsening workers’ rights”.

Presenting the Bill, Mr Javid said: “This is not about the Government versus the unions”.

He said: “In reality, this bill will lead to a deterioration of good industrial relations and it has no support within public opinion”.

In his victory speech on Saturday, Corbyn said he would fight the Conservatives’ attempt to “to shackle unions”.

“Matt Wrack, leader of the Fire Brigades Union said the Government had been elected by a minority of the public but was embarking on an” onslaught” against the majority.

David Davis has described parts of his party’s Trade Union Bill as being like Franco’s dictatorship.

Dave Penman of the FDA trade union attacked the Government for not allowing statutory electronic balloting.

He added: “What about the low-paid restaurant staff who miss a day’s work and a day’s pay because of a stoppage called by a handful of transport workers?”

One of Britain’s most powerful union bosses has declared that he is ready to go to prison if the Conservatives push ahead with the proposals.