On Tuesday night Gordon Brown suffered his biggest rebellion in the Commons when 45 Labour MPs voted for a key clause taken from the Trade Union Rights and Freedoms bill.

 

In advance of the Report stage of the Employment Bill, some 40 MPs had signed up to the three trade union freedom bill amendments, new clauses 1, 2 and 3. The amendments were tabled by John McDonnell MP, promoted by the United Campaign and supported by the TUC. 

 

Sixteen MPs also signed up to the Tony Lloyd’s amendment (Chair of the Trade Union Group of MPs), new clause 6. Both the United Campaign and the IER had assisted in, drafting, promoting and supporting the amendment. The clause would have given unions the automatic right to expel fascists from their membership.

 

The debate can be viewed online or read the text version.

 

Despite constant pressing from MPs, the Minister for Employment Relations, Pat McFadden, refused to offer even a consultation to address the weaknesses in the law. A vote was forced on new clause 2, relating to proposed new duties on "employers in relation to industrial action ballots". 

 

Forty five labour MPs voted in favor of the amendment:

Richard Burden, Ronnie Campbell, Mr. Michael Clapham, Katy Clark, Frank Cook, Jeremy Corbyn, Jim Cousins, Jon Cruddas, John Cummings, Andrew Dismore, David Drew, Bill Etherington, Mark Fisher, Paul Flynn, Neil Gerrard, Dr. Ian Gibson, Mr. Roger Godsiff, Mr. Dai Havard, Kate Hoey, Dr. Brian Iddon, Eric Illsley, Glenda Jackson, Brian Jenkins, Lynne Jones,  Andrew Mackinlay, Mr. Gordon Marsden, Robert Marshall-Andrews, Chris McCafferty, John McDonnell,  Michael Meacher, Andrew Miller, Austin Mitchell, Dr. Doug Naysmith, Dr. Nick Palmer, Gwyn Prosser, Mrs. Linda Riordan, Jim Sheridan, Alan Simpson, Mr. Marsha Singh, Mr. Dennis Skinner, Ian Stewart, David Taylor, Paul Truswell, Mr. David Winnick, Anthony Wright.

 

The ten Non-Labour MPs who voted in favour were:

Dai Davies (Independent Labour), Dr. Richard Taylor (Independent), Robert Wareing (Independent Labour), Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru), Andrew Pelling (Independent Conservative), George Galloway (Respect), Paul Holmes (Lib Dem), John Leech (Lib Dem), Elfyn Llwyd (Plaid Cymru), Adam Price (Plaid Cymru)

 

The Minister also refused to give any ground on Tony Lloyd's amendment although this clause was not put to the vote. 

 

According to the Guardian the government had to rely on large attendance from the Conservatives and the government payroll vote to ensure the amendments were defeated. The paper said that a number of Labour MPs who had pledged to rebel were absent, campaigning in the Glenrothes by-election, making the size of the rebellion all the more surprising.

 

The BBC news reported the previous record was 36 Labour rebels over 42-day detention for terror suspects.

 

The support received was a tribute to all those who have supported the United Campaign lobbying of MPs. The fight for trade union freedom continues.

Big rebellion in favour of trade union freedom - the campaign continues

United Campaign to Repeal the Anti-Trade Union Laws

Email Update 3 November 2008

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