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10
November 2008
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.
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.
The debate can be viewed
online or read the text version.
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