Tory opponents of Angela Rayner’s strikers charter will celebrate ‘Norman Tebbit Day’ in honour of Margaret Thatcher’s union-bashing ally
Opponents of Angela Rayner‘s controversial new industrial laws will tomorrow celebrate ‘Norman Tebbit Day’ in honour of Margaret Thatcher‘s late union-bashing ally.
Tory peers will use a debate in the Lords to try to amend Ms Rayner’s Employment Rights Bill, which critics say will make it harder to employ workers, leave businesses vulnerable to strikes and force firms to employ diversity officers to censor conversations they deem inappropriate.
The Bill also contains a raft of other measures. They include the end of zero-hours contracts, strengthened redundancy rights, more flexible working and the power for ministers to take companies to employment tribunals on behalf of employees – even if they do not want to sue.
The peers are planning to amend measures granting access rights for union officials, and new electronic balloting which would make it easier for union reps to persuade workers to back industrial action.
Lord Tebbit, who died aged 94 on July 7, led Mrs Thatcher’s drive to restrict the unions’ ability to bring industrial action.
He described Marxist totalitarians in unions as ‘small in number, anti-democratic forces [which] have gained great power through the trades union movement’.
The peers are also expected to raise fears that hostile states such as Russia, Iran and North Korea could cyber-hack the e-ballots.
As The Mail on Sunday revealed earlier this month, under the Bill employers must protect their staff from harassment by third parties.
Opponents of Angela Rayner ‘s controversial new industrial laws will tomorrow celebrate ‘Norman Tebbit Day’ in honour of Margaret Thatcher’s late union-bashing ally (Pictured: Mrs Thatcher and Lord Tebbit together in 1987)
Tory peers will use a debate in the Lords to try to amend Ms Rayner’s Employment Rights Bill, which critics say will make it harder to employ workers, leave businesses vulnerable to strikes and force firms to employ diversity officers to censor conversations they deem inappropriate
Lord Tebbit (above), who died aged 94 on July 7, led Mrs Thatcher’s drive to restrict the unions’ ability to bring industrial action
It means, for example, that a worker could take an employer to a tribunal if they feel jokes or banter they overhear was offensive on grounds such as race, sex or religion if their bosses didn’t do ‘all they could’ to prevent it.
That is likely to lead to firms taking on more diversity officers to monitor what people are saying to help them prove they had taken steps to protect their workers.
The Bill fails to stipulate any ring fence allowing the expression of opinions on political, moral, religious or social matters.
Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith said: ‘Angela Rayner’s extreme union charter will take us right back to the 1970s, a period Norman Tebbit fought tooth and nail to drag Britain out of.
‘These laws will see the unions run rife, strangle private enterprise and grind the country to a halt.
‘Most worryingly are measures which risk industrial sabotage. This goes against everything Tebbit fought for, and must be stopped at once’.
Wellwishers raise £15,000 for Minehead school coach crash victims after boy, 10, was killed with nine still in hospital
Wellwishers have raised more than £15,000 for the families of victims involved in a fatal bus crash in Somerset.
A 10-year-old boy died and six children and three adults remain in hospital after the vehicle left the A396 at Cutcombe Hill near Minehead and slid down a 20ft slope on Thursday afternoon.
The bus had been carrying 60 to 70 pupils and staff from Minehead Middle School, who were returning from a trip to Exmoor Zoo days before the end of term.
A resident in west Somerset has organised a GoFundMe for those affected which has raised more than £15,000 in around a day.
Bobbie Rammond, a business owner, said he had a ‘strong desire’ to help after hearing about the crash.
The father-of-two, who said he was not directly connected to the families affected by the crash, wrote on the fundraising page: ‘We are all heartbroken by the tragic school bus crash that occurred on the A396 on July 17.
A 10-year-old boy died and six children and three adults remain in hospital after the vehicle left the A396 at Cutcombe Hill near Minehead and slid down a 20ft slope on Thursday afternoon
The bus had been carrying 60 to 70 pupils and staff from Minehead Middle School, who were returning from a trip to Exmoor Zoo days before the end of term
Players and Staff of Somerset line up for a moment of reflection as a mark of respect to those affected by the Minehead Bus Crash
Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the children, families, staff, and emergency responders affected by this devastating event.
‘As a father of two young children myself, I can only begin to imagine the pain and heartbreak that so many are experiencing right now.
‘This tragedy has shaken the local community, and like many others, I felt a strong desire to do what I could to help.
‘I understand this is a sensitive time, and while the specific use of the fund will be shaped by the needs of those involved my promise is to ensure it reaches the people who need it most.’
Other fundraisers have also been set up for affected families, amounting to tens of thousands of pounds in total so far.
The crash happened between Wheddon Cross and Timberscombe, at about 3.15pm on Thursday.
The vehicle left the road, overturned and came to rest about 20ft from the road, down a steep slope.
Other fundraisers have also been set up for affected families, amounting to tens of thousands of pounds in total so far
Photo from the scene on Thursday where an off-duty firefighter travelling behind the coach was able to start freeing passengers immediately
An off-duty firefighter travelling behind the coach was able to start freeing passengers immediately.
Recovery of the vehicle and the investigation are complex, and the PA news agency understands the road will remain closed until the beginning of next week.
A stream of people visited the school, which has pupils aged between nine and 14, on Friday to pay respects and leave tributes at the gates after the crash.
The school was closed but people left floral tributes and messages at the gates.
Many were visibly upset and were hugging and supporting each other.
