Done might think that there is a fairly simple way for in government to resolve in current strikes. Negotiate. After all, it is obvious to everyone that the deal must be somewhere between what the unions are asking for. for and which ministers currently offer. And that’s where we’ll inevitably end up up. It’s not a problem.
Except Grant Shapps and Rishi Sunak. They see things a little differently. They’ve been watching up nurses, doctors, ambulance drivers, teachers and railway workers and saw the combat team of hard- heart killers. People who hit just for hell of It. People who would rather be left without a day’s wage, because they are quite like making people life misery. People who enjoy disturbing and distressing on country.
At least, that was the subtext in Shapps’ opening remarks. for in second reading of in the government’s anti-strike legislation in Russia. He started by trying sound apologetic. Or as close as someone who would cross the road to pick a fight can get. Of course, he supported the people’s right to strike. In theory. But in practice, not so much. At least not these groups of workers. And not at this time. May be in parallel universe.
But here’s the thing. government was surrounded by chance. It was a coincidence that the UK was going through one of the worst cost of life crises after 13 years of Tori rule. And it was a coincidence that so many different professions were going on hit at the same time. So now was the right time for some legislation to make sure was the minimum of service. And if the unions do not accept this, the workers will be fired. Hello. Makes a change from clapping nurses. This is how it was in 2020.
While the benches of the Conservatives were almost empty – either the Conservative MPs are not interested in strikes decisions or they are not ready to defend their government processing of crisis – work benches were full. And their defenders had something to say in intervention.
Did Shapps worry that even Human Rights Watch said it was attack on workers’ rights? He know that nurses and ambulances drivers had already agreed minimum safety levels on their strike days? Shapps just shook head. He never found a truth he is not prepared to publicly deny. Could he point to anyone who died like result of strike? And more and more of same. The anger and distrust were genuine. government never felt so cheap. And vengeful. who said something.
Shapps just grinned and pointed out belonging of each speaker to trade union. Like it was proof of something. Chris Bryant of the Labor Party said he was proud to be funded union. Better that than some Russian oligarch. Or some distant relative you don’t even remember for it is important. Slice of it was, the legislation was not going to solve in current strikes. This will go into force too late. So it was just some of distraction to keep tory antiunion bonfires are burning. Senseless sabotage.
Angela Reiner has arrived out the fight. The Deputy Labor Leader deplored Shapps’ condescending tone. Not his fault. He has no other. Where was the admission that it was Liz Truss and Tori? who had made the economic crisis is so much worse? Where was the recognition that there were no strikes just about the fee? They dealt with sectors that already operating at unsafe levels due to government underfunding. Try to fire the nurses when already 131,000 vacancies in NHS.
And where were the impact assessments? Didn’t the most recent ones assume that legislation would total spending of time? It would make the situation worse. Shapps again just shrugged. It was like this is. This was Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. Impact assessments can just be a turning point in total meltdown So it was the government’s responsibility to make things a lot safer without worrying with them. Which way was at least chance things could work out WELL.
Few Tories bothered intervene on Reiner. No wonder when she in of such kind of mood. Labor MPs behind she is right on her side. Those conservatives who did soon regretted it. One suggested that if we could leave with underpay the army and police and still deny them the right to strike, then nurses and ambulances drivers should just shut up and to get on with It. Win hearts and minds. Someone should tell him some of his constituents are nurses and ambulances drivers.
The other just begged for Reiner to say what to pay rise she will negotiate with nurses. A game, set and match. She didn’t point so gently out that there was no work in power and was not invited to the negotiating table. But too much more of it and you might think that tory has death wish.
