Senior Labour MP John McDonnell says he supports general strike and hits out at Sir Keir Starmer - Sky News

Senior Labour MP John McDonnell says he supports a general strike and criticised Sir Keir Starmer for sacking a junior minister after he stood on the picket line during yesterday's rail strike.

Mr McDonnell, who was shadow chancellor under Jeremy Corbyn, told Sky News the Labour Party should be supporting the strikes as rail workers call for a pay rise in line with inflation.

He told Sky News that Labour leader Sir Keir has "misread the public mood" by failing to have specific targets on what workers should be paid and questioned who is advising him.

The Labour stalwart also said the party should be supporting the strikes and there should be a general strike if no progress is made.

The last time a general strike - where workers of different industries coordinate strike action - took place was in 1926 and was the only one that has ever taken place in the UK.

Advertisement

Mr McDonnell told Sky News' Kay Burley: "I support coordinated action because if that results in a decent pay rise for people that protect against the cost of living crisis, I think that's the most effective thing to do.

"But this is completely unnecessary, what it needs is the government to recognise you can't expect people to have to stand to one side when their wages have been cut."

More on John Mcdonnell

Related Topics:

He added that he has "never seen this level of anger but also this level of solidarity, wave after wave of trade unions".

There have already been, or will be, strikes by Post Office workers, rail, tram and bus workers, bin lorry workers, airline and BT Broadband staff this summer.

Image: Rail stations were empty on Wednesday as staff went on strike

Mick Lynch, head of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, called on Wednesday for a general strike in retaliation to the government's threat to curb industrial action, warning of "the biggest resistance mounted by the entire trade union movement".

Simon Weller, assistant general secretary of the ASLEF union, told Sky News they have not discussed coordinated action but predicted it would be a "summer of solidarity" by workers.

Tory leadership candidate Liz Truss called the strikes "militant action" and promised to push through laws to make sure "essential services are provided on our railways" if unions strike, if she becomes prime minister.

'Severe mistake' to sack Labour MP on picket line

Mr McDonnell also said he supported Sam Tarry, who is Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner's partner, after he was sacked from his junior transport minister position on Wednesday after he appeared on the picket line at Euston Station and said workers should be getting a pay rise in line with inflation, which is set to rise to above 11%.

The Labour Party said Mr Tarry was sacked for doing broadcast interviews, including with Sky News, from the picket line and is understood to have been told it was because he said it was "not acceptable to offer below inflation pay rises" as it would be a real-terms pay cut for workers.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

1:16

'I'm not defying anybody', says Tarry from the picket line

Labour's official position has been to call for ministers and unions to negotiate terms. They had also said ministers should not join picket lines.

Mr McDonnell said it was a "severe mistake" to sack a Labour MP for being on a picket line, adding that the party was formed by the trade unions "so when the trade unions have a just cause, we support them - and this is a just cause".

Some in the party believe Mr Tarry was goading Sir Keir into sacking him to help him fight a deselection battle.

Wards in Tarry's Ilford South constituency unanimously voted for a full reselection, meaning he is likely to lose his seat.

Mr Tarry won the east London seat in 2019 after local council leader Jas Athwal, who was also going to run, was suspended from the party just before the vote over allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

Mr Athwal was subsequently cleared after an almost year-long internal investigation but has spoken of how it badly affected him.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMijwFodHRwczovL25ld3Muc2t5LmNvbS9zdG9yeS90b3AtbGFib3VyLW1wLWpvaG4tbWNkb25uZWxsLWNhbGxzLWZvci1nZW5lcmFsLXN0cmlrZS1hbmQtaGl0cy1vdXQtYXQtc2lyLWtlaXItc3Rhcm1lci1vdmVyLXN0cmlrZS1wb3NpdGlvbi0xMjY2MDQxM9IBkwFodHRwczovL25ld3Muc2t5LmNvbS9zdG9yeS9hbXAvdG9wLWxhYm91ci1tcC1qb2huLW1jZG9ubmVsbC1jYWxscy1mb3ItZ2VuZXJhbC1zdHJpa2UtYW5kLWhpdHMtb3V0LWF0LXNpci1rZWlyLXN0YXJtZXItb3Zlci1zdHJpa2UtcG9zaXRpb24tMTI2NjA0MTM?oc=5

2022-07-28 09:00:03Z
1510331929

Labour frontbencher Sam Tarry sacked after giving TV interview on picket line during rail strike - Sky News

A Labour MP has been removed from the party's frontbench by Sir Keir Starmer after giving a TV interview on the picket line during a rail strike.

Sam Tarry, the MP for Ilford South and shadow transport minister, was this morning at Euston station along with rail workers taking industrial action over pay and conditions.

He told Sky News the way the government was treating them was disgusting.

Another rail strike announced - live updates

Labour frontbenchers were banned from joining picket lines during last month's strikes.

Advertisement

A spokesperson from Labour said the party "will always stand up for working people fighting for better pay, terms and conditions at work".

But they added: "This isn't about appearing on a picket line. Members of the frontbench sign up to collective responsibility. That includes media appearances being approved and speaking to agreed frontbench positions.

More from Politics

"As a government in waiting, any breach of collective responsibility is taken extremely seriously and for these reasons Sam Tarry has been removed from the frontbench."

It is understood the decision was made over comments Mr Parry made in a Sky News interview where he suggested workers could not be offered a below-inflation pay rise. Labour's position is that pay negotiations are for unions and ministers.

A senior Labour source has told Sky News: "You can't make up your own policies on an unauthorised national TV appearance and expect it all to be fine."

They added: "It's also a hilarious amount of attention for an absolute nobody who has never achieved anything

Liz Bates Analysis

Liz Bates

Political correspondent

@wizbates

The sacking of Labour’s shadow transport secretary Sam Tarry has reignited long-standing tensions between the left of the party and the leadership. Keir Starmer – desperate to draw a line under the Jeremy Corbyn era – has told his MPs not to go out on picket lines alongside striking workers. He wants Labour to be seen as a government in waiting not a protest movement. But Sam Tarry and others believe that is a betrayal of the party’s history and commitment to solidarity with the unions. His numerous media appearances this morning on the frontline from Euston angered senior figures who swiftly ousted him from Starmer’s frontbench. Since then he has continued to stir up trouble, saying he has spoken to union bosses who are furious and on course for a showdown with Labour’s top team. Meanwhile, a senior Labour source has told Sky News: “You can’t make up your own policies on an unauthorised national TV appearance and expect it all to be fine. They added: “It’s also a hilarious amount of attention for an absolute nobody who has never achieved anything.” Clearly there is no love lost between the two sides. And as the strikes continue over summer it look likes Labour infighting could carry on as well.

The move has sparked outrage among allies of Mr Tarry on the left of the party.

But the former frontbencher has notably declined to criticise the Labour leadership himself, instead hitting out at "callous and incompetent ministers" who he accused of refusing to negotiate with trade unions.

He said it was "a real shame" to be sacked for "standing shoulder to shoulder" with striking workers, adding Labour was "going to really struggle to win the faith of the British people" as more strikes take place in different sectors.

But he said he was a Labour "loyalist" and offered his thanks to Sir Keir for letting him serve on the frontbench, claiming he had been "a real asset to the party, making sure our agenda of progressive transport policies is put forward".

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

0:44

Sam Tarry sacked after joining rail strike

He said: "I'll be supporting and campaigning for our Labour Party to get into Number 10 and I believe that that is possible.

"But I believe that is possible on the basis of real solidarity and real solidarity means not turning our backs on people that created and made our party and make us strong on a daily basis."

Mr Tarry caused a stir when he turned up at the picket line this morning alongside RMT union boss Mick Lynch.

He denied defying party orders, saying: "I'm not defying anybody. I'm here supporting 40,000 low paid transport workers who decided to go on strike."

He continued to tweet his support for the strikes afterwards, saying he was "proud" to be on the picket line.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

7:52

Labour minister defies Starmer

'Wake up and smell the coffee'

A number of MPs on the left of the Labour Party have tweeted their support for Mr Tarry after his sacking from the frontbench.

Read more:
What you need to know as industrial action continues
Sir Keir Starmer U-turns on election pledge to nationalise railways

John McDonnell tweeted: "This must be the first Labour MP to be removed from his frontbench position for joining a trade union picket line to support workers."

Kate Osamor said: "Solidarity @SamTarry. The Labour Party exists to fight for ordinary people. We must never lose sight of that."

And Zarah Sultana said: "Labour MPs should be proud to stand with workers. The clue is in the name."

The TSSA transport union also slammed the decision, saying they were "ashamed" of the Labour party.

TSSA General Secretary Manuel Cortes said: "Whatever excuses the Labour Party makes about the reasons for Sam being sacked, the reality is that Sam has shown solidarity with his class and we applaud him for that. The Labour Party needs to wake up and smell the coffee. If they think can win the next general election while pushing away seven million trade union members, they are deluded."

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiemh0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L2xhYm91ci1mcm9udGJlbmNoZXItc2FtLXRhcnJ5LXNhY2tlZC1hZnRlci1hcHBlYXJpbmctb24tcGlja2V0LWxpbmUtZHVyaW5nLXJhaWwtc3RyaWtlLTEyNjYwMTU40gF-aHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdzLnNreS5jb20vc3RvcnkvYW1wL2xhYm91ci1mcm9udGJlbmNoZXItc2FtLXRhcnJ5LXNhY2tlZC1hZnRlci1hcHBlYXJpbmctb24tcGlja2V0LWxpbmUtZHVyaW5nLXJhaWwtc3RyaWtlLTEyNjYwMTU4?oc=5

2022-07-27 18:22:30Z
CBMiemh0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L2xhYm91ci1mcm9udGJlbmNoZXItc2FtLXRhcnJ5LXNhY2tlZC1hZnRlci1hcHBlYXJpbmctb24tcGlja2V0LWxpbmUtZHVyaW5nLXJhaWwtc3RyaWtlLTEyNjYwMTU40gF-aHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdzLnNreS5jb20vc3RvcnkvYW1wL2xhYm91ci1mcm9udGJlbmNoZXItc2FtLXRhcnJ5LXNhY2tlZC1hZnRlci1hcHBlYXJpbmctb24tcGlja2V0LWxpbmUtZHVyaW5nLXJhaWwtc3RyaWtlLTEyNjYwMTU4

Archie Battersbee's family granted more time to appeal against ruling - BBC

Hollie Dance

The parents of a boy at the centre of a life support treatment fight have been given more time to make an appeal.

Archie Battersbee,12, was found unconscious at home in Southend, Essex, on 7 April.

On Monday his family lost a request to appeal a High Court ruling that stated treatment could lawfully end.

The Christian Legal Centre, who support the family, said they have been given an extra day to make an application to the European Court of Human Rights.

Archie has not regained consciousness since he was found by his mother, Hollie Dance, who believed he had been taking part in an online challenge.

James Manning/PA

Doctors treating Archie at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London, think he is brain-stem dead and say continued life-support treatment is not in his best interests.

On Monday Court of Appeal judges Sir Andrew McFarlane, Lady Justice King and Lord Justice Peter Jackson refused to overturn the last High Court judgement which ruled treatment could end.

Lawyers for the family had asked for the ruling to be postponed after Mr Battersbee became ill outside court prior to the hearing.

He was taken to hospital but has since been released.

Ms Dance also wanted judges to adjourn their ruling on the basis that she had "video evidence" that indicated Archie, who is attached to a ventilator, had twice tried to breathe for himself on Friday and Saturday.

The family had been given until 14:00 BST on Wednesday to make an appeal to the European Court but have now been granted an additional 24 hours by appeal judges.

In a statement Ms Dance said: "All we have asked for from the beginning is for Archie to be given more time and for Archie's wishes and ours to be respected. As long as Archie is alive, I will never give up on him, he is too good to give up on.

Hollie Dance

Barts Health NHS Trust, which runs the hospital had taken the case to the courts to get a ruling on what was in the best interests of Archie, who the court heard suffered catastrophic brain injuries.

Judges in two separate High Court hearings had previously ruled against his parents, who wanted treatment to continue while his heart was still beating.

Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk

Related Internet Links

• The Court of Appeal

• European Court of Human Rights

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiNGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3VrLWVuZ2xhbmQtZXNzZXgtNjIzMjU5MzDSAThodHRwczovL3d3dy5iYmMuY28udWsvbmV3cy91ay1lbmdsYW5kLWVzc2V4LTYyMzI1OTMwLmFtcA?oc=5

2022-07-27 17:40:54Z
1511371699

The Woodman fire: Three children in critical condition - BBC

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service

Three children are critically ill after they were rescued from a fire at a derelict pub, police have said.

A fire broke out on the first-floor of The Woodman on London Road, Hazel Grove, Stockport, at 20:30 BST on Tuesday.

North West Ambulance Service said the children, whose ages have not been given, were being treated for burns.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said it was believed that the fire had been started deliberately.

The force has appealed for anyone with information to get in touch and urged parents to speak to their children.

Det Insp Chris Aunins added: "Now we are in the school summer holiday period, I'd like to appeal to parents and carers to explain to children the dangers of playing within disused buildings, as they pose a really serious risk with a number of potential dangers within them."

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said crews were still on scene and London Road between Mill Street and Commercial Street remained closed.

Bus firm Stagecoach said its 192 service would terminate at Stepping Hill due to the incident.

Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk

Related Internet Links

• Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiOWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3VrLWVuZ2xhbmQtbWFuY2hlc3Rlci02MjMxNzAzNdIBPWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3VrLWVuZ2xhbmQtbWFuY2hlc3Rlci02MjMxNzAzNS5hbXA?oc=5

2022-07-27 12:36:38Z
1510050889

London Fire Brigade needs improvement by every measure, report says - BBC

Getty Images

London Fire Brigade (LFB) requires improvement by every measure it is assessed on, a watchdog has found.

Some responders remain untrained for terrorist incidents, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) said.

Values and behaviours are not shown by all LFB staff and it has been slow to provide station facilities for women.

The response to last week's widespread fires was praised "but beneath the surface deeper-seated problems remain".

Matt Parr, inspector of HMICFRS, said: "Overall, the brigade leadership have demonstrated a clear intent to addressing the problems identified during our previous inspection [in 2019].

"However, we are yet to see any clear indication that this has translated into the improvements required."

HMICFRS

LFB response times - six minutes and 24 seconds on average in the year to 31 March 2021 - were the second fastest in the country.

However, the report said nearly half of its callouts were to false alarms and not enough was being done to reduce unnecessary callouts.

"The brigade has made little progress in addressing the following area for improvement identified in 2019," the report says.

The 11 areas which require improvement include understanding and preventing fires and other risks, making best use of resources and ensuring fairness and promoting diversity.

Getting the right people with the right skills, which was previously judged inadequate, still requires improvement.

Reuters

LFB has identified and carried out audits at all 8,517 high-rise buildings in London, which is significantly more than any other fire and rescue service in England, the report's author notes.

Of the 29 recommendations from Phase 1 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, LFB has implemented 26 out of 29 actions, up from four in February 2021.

'More to do'

Mr Parr added that there had been good progress in some areas.

He said: "For example, in 2018 we were very worried about training for staff in risk‑critical skills, such as incident command and emergency fire engine driving. The LFB has turned this round, and it is no longer a cause of concern.

"I am assured that the brigade is committed to improving and will continue to monitor its progress closely."

• Busiest day since WW2 for London firefighters
• London wildfires absolute hell, firefighters say
• Major incident declared over London fires

LFB commissioner Andy Roe admitted that "we have a lot more to do".

He said: "We are at the start of a long journey and fundamental change in large, complex organisations takes time.

"The extreme events of last week demonstrated just how capable our firefighters are - even in the most challenging circumstances their priority is always to protect the people of London. The brigade needs to honour their courage and dedicated service by improving the organisation for the better.

"I'd like to reassure residents that we are a different brigade from two years ago and while significant changes have been made, neither my staff nor I will stop looking for ways we can improve our service to you."

A spokesperson for the mayor of London said: "The mayor welcomes the findings of the new HMICFRS report and is satisfied that the brigade and commissioner recognise the scale of the task at hand, are open to change and committed to delivering the improvements needed."

Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk

Related Internet Links

• HMICFRS

• London Fire Brigade

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiNWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3VrLWVuZ2xhbmQtbG9uZG9uLTYyMzA4OTcw0gE5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmJjLmNvLnVrL25ld3MvdWstZW5nbGFuZC1sb25kb24tNjIzMDg5NzAuYW1w?oc=5

2022-07-27 04:59:38Z
1514990753

Archie Battersbee: Father of 12-year-old admitted to hospital - BBC

Hollie Dance

The father of a boy at the centre of a life-support treatment fight spent a night in hospital after taking ill before the court ruling, a family spokeswoman says.

Archie Battersbee, 12, was found unconscious at home in Southend, Essex, on 7 April and is on life support.

On Monday, Appeal Court judges ruled that doctors could lawfully disconnect the child's ventilator.

His father, Paul Battersbee, was feared to have had a heart attack or stroke.

The spokeswoman said Mr Battersbee, who is in his 50s, was "OK now" and should be out of hospital by the end of the day.

James Manning/PA

Archie has not regained consciousness since he was found by his mother, Hollie Dance, who believed he had been taking part in an online challenge.

Mr Battersbee took ill shortly before Court of Appeal judges supported a High Court ruling that ending his life support was lawful and in his best interests.

They were asked to postpone their ruling as Mr Battersbee had been taken ill outside court, but they refused.

Ms Dance also wanted judges to adjourn their ruling on the basis that she had "video evidence" that indicated that Archie, who is attached to a ventilator, had twice tried to breathe for himself on Friday and Saturday.

Hollie Dance

Barts Health NHS Trust, which runs the hospital in Whitechapel in east London, had taken the case to the courts to get a ruling on what was in the best interests of Archie, who the court heard suffered catastrophic brain injuries.

Judges in two separate High Court hearings had previously ruled against his parents, who wanted treatment to continue while his heart was still beating.

On Monday, Sir Andrew McFarlane, Lady Justice King and Lord Justice Peter Jackson refused to overturn the last High Court judgement by Mr Justice Hayden.

It means life support treatment can lawfully end.

Sir Andrew said medical staff had seen "no signs of life" in Archie and his "every bodily function is now maintained by artificial means".

A 48-hour delay to ending treatment was ordered so the family could appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.

In a statement, Ms Dance, said: "As long as Archie is alive, I will never give up on him; he is too good to give up on.

"We should not have to endlessly battle the hospital in the courts for what we believe is right for Archie."

Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiMmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy91ay1lbmdsYW5kLWVzc2V4LTYyMzA3NjQ40gEA?oc=5

2022-07-26 14:02:09Z
1511371699

Drought 'very likely' for south of England and Wales after driest eight month period since 1976 - Sky News

Water chiefs are preparing for drought as the Met Office confirmed England's driest eight month period since 1976.

Officials at the Environment Agency (EA) are transferring water to low running rivers, rescuing fish and reoxygenating water, while water companies are implementing the early stages of their drought plans.

The National Drought Group of farmers, water companies and land users met this morning and have urged people to conserve water, including by swapping baths for showers, re-using water used to rinse vegetables and keeping cold water in the fridge to avoid running the tap.

"Don't wait for it to happen," said John Leyland, EA's chief of staff, urging people to start conserving water.

"This is how drought starts. The continued hot and dry weather may lead to more environmental problems in August," he said, adding water companies do have sufficient supplies for summer.

Advertisement

It comes as the Royal Meteorological Society told Sky News drought was now "very likely" for the majority of the south of England and Wales.

"Based on the forecast... it really feels like we've got some trouble ahead with the lack of rainfall," chief executive Liz Bentley told Sky News.

More on Climate Change

Related Topics:

November 2021 to June 2022 was the driest in England since the same period in 1975-76, the Met Office confirmed today, and last week's record-breaking mega heatwave exacerbated the already parched earth.

Image: Staines Reservoir in Middlesex during the severe drought of 1976

The dry weather has left most of England, apart from the North West, in "prolonged dry weather" status, the first of four drought categories.

Whether areas fall into the second "drought" stage hinges on when the rain returns, and whether it adds up to more or less than usual. The last drought periods were in 2018/2019 and 2011-12.

Read more:
Where does our water come from, where do we use it most and what happens during a drought?

"Where the the lack of rainfall has been most prevalent over recent months in the southern half of the UK, is where we're not likely to see much rainfall in the coming days," Ms Bentley said.

Anywhere south of the Welsh coastal village of Aberporth in the west, to The Wash in East Anglia, is "really struggling with persistent months where we've had below average rainfall," she said, with the problem growing more acute the further towards the South East.

Image: Hosepipe bans could be on the horizon

The UK is getting hotter as human activity changes the climate. While drought is not expected to become more frequent or severe in the next few decades, according to climate models it will become more severe, intense and frequent in the second half of this century.

The North West tends to be wetter because it is on the front end of the prevailing weather system that arrives from the Atlantic.

Watch the Daily Climate Show at 3.30pm Monday to Friday, and The Climate Show with Tom Heap on Saturday and Sunday at 3.30pm and 7.30pm.

All on Sky News, on the Sky News website and app, on YouTube and Twitter.

The show investigates how global warming is changing our landscape and highlights solutions to the crisis.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMikAFodHRwczovL25ld3Muc2t5LmNvbS9zdG9yeS9jbGltYXRlLWNoYW5nZS1kcm91Z2h0LXZlcnktbGlrZWx5LWZvci1zb3V0aC1vZi1lbmdsYW5kLWFuZC13YWxlcy1hZnRlci1kcmllc3QtZWlnaHQtbW9udGgtcGVyaW9kLXNpbmNlLTE5NzYtMTI2NTk1MDPSAZQBaHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdzLnNreS5jb20vc3RvcnkvYW1wL2NsaW1hdGUtY2hhbmdlLWRyb3VnaHQtdmVyeS1saWtlbHktZm9yLXNvdXRoLW9mLWVuZ2xhbmQtYW5kLXdhbGVzLWFmdGVyLWRyaWVzdC1laWdodC1tb250aC1wZXJpb2Qtc2luY2UtMTk3Ni0xMjY1OTUwMw?oc=5

2022-07-26 16:07:30Z
1509791774