UK politics live: Labour left accuses Keir Starmer of double standards over Sam Tarry sacking

Latest updates: Labour party embroiled in row over leader’s stance on strikes after shadow transport minister was sacked after joining picket line

Yesterday Mick Lynch, the RMT general secretry, suggested that if Liz Truss becomes prime minister, and tries to implement her plans to restrict the ability of trade unions to call strikes, the union movement should respond with a 1926-style general strike.

In his interview on Sky News this morning, John McDonnell, the former shadow chancellor, was asked if he would support a general strike. He suggested he would, saying it was sensible for unions to coordinate action. He said:

If you look at the ballots that are taking place across the trade union movement, we are talking about millions of workers now voting for industrial action. So, naturally, what people are saying as well, why not coordinate that?

I support co-ordinated action, because if that results in a decent pay rise for people, they are protected against the cost-of-living crisis. I think that’s the most effective thing to do.

But, you know, this is completely unnecessary. What it needs is the government to recognise that you can’t expect people to stand on one side when their wages are being cut …

You can understand why unions are saying that if we are going to strike, we might as well coordinate that action. So coordinated action, I think, is going to be inevitable, and I just hope that the government starts listening.

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