Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer says he sacked shadow minister for making up policy 'on the hoof' at picket line - Sky News

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said one of his shadow ministers was sacked yesterday for making up policy "on the hoof" as he stood on a picket line during rail strikes.

Sam Tarry was dismissed from his role as a junior shadow transport minister after he disobeyed orders for frontbench Labour MPs to not appear on picket lines during Wednesday's rail strike.

He told Sky News workers should be offered pay rises in line with inflation - however Labour's position is that pay negotiations are for unions and ministers.

Speaking for the first time since he was sacked, Sir Keir explained: "Sam Tarry was sacked because he booked himself onto media programmes without permission and then made up policy on the hoof.

"That can't be tolerated in any organisation because we have got collective responsibility, so that was relatively straightforward."

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"Of course, as far as the industrial action is concerned, I completely understand the frustration of so many working people who have seen the prices go up, have seen inflation through the roof and their wages haven't gone up.

"So the Labour Party will always be on the side of working people but we need collective responsibility as any organisation does."

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7:52

Labour minister defies Starmer

Earlier, former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who is still an MP, told Sky News he was backing Mr Tarry's position and criticised Sir Keir for sacking him.

He said it was a "severe mistake" as the Labour 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.

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2022-07-28 11:58:12Z
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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.

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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."

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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"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".

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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.

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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."

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2022-07-27 18:22:30Z
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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

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

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2022-07-27 12:36:38Z
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London Fire Brigade needs improvement by every measure, report says - BBC

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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
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• 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."

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2022-07-27 04:59:38Z
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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

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2022-07-26 14:02:09Z
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