Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner has “delivered a suicide note” with her vow to hand more power to trade unions, according to political commentator Mike Parry.
Rayner told the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Liverpool that she would “strengthen the role of trade unions in our society”.
She also said the state would take a “more strategic and active role in our economy”.
Rayner said recent anti-strike laws will be scrapped as Labour plans to introduce new workers’ rights within 100 days of taking office.
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Parry was full of praise for Rayner’s achievements as an individual, but told GB News that he is shocked the Labour deputy leader was able to make such statements.
“I think she is a fantastically interesting woman”, he said.
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“I’ve got a lot of time for her. I like her guts and approach.
“I am amazed there hasn’t been a bigger backlash from the Labour side to say Angela Rayner delivered a suicide note at the TUC.
“Labour are going to wrap us up in so much red tape, the economy will take a terrible, downward step.
“We are once again going to be forced into being controlled by politicians by labour forces and the nationalised unions in this country. It’s going to be horrendous.
Angela Rayner addressed the Trades Union Congress last week
PA“I can’t understand how she was allowed to say that. Put that together with Keir Starmer saying he’s going to allow 120,000 people from overseas into the country every year, I would say they’ve done a good job of doing away a lot of their support.”
It comes after GB News’ Deputy Political Editor Tom Harwood dubbed Rayner’s comments a “murky deal” with the unions as she “went down a storm” at the congress.
The TUC is an annual four day gathering of the forty-eight trade unions that make up the congress.
Labour leader Keir Starmer has not always held such positive relations with the unions, exacerbated by a host of U-turns on pledges that helped him ease to victory in the 2020 Labour leadership election.
Sir Keir Starmer has not always enjoyed a rosy relationship with the unions
PARayner appears to be seen in a more favourable light, evidenced by the TUC general secretary Paul Now saying she “set out a vision for a Britain that delivers for working people”.
“Labour’s transformative New Deal for Working People stands in stark contrast to the Tories’ dire record on workers’ rights and pay,” he added.
“The Conservatives have presided over an explosion in insecure work and the longest pay squeeze in modern history, and they are now launching a full-scale attack on the right to strike.
“The country desperately needs a fresh start.
“British voters across the political spectrum want more security and fairer treatment at work.
“Make no mistake – implementing the New Deal would be the biggest upgrade in workers’ rights in a generation.”
Rayner has been a divisive figure in politics after a "Tory scum" jibe that was irked a host of Conservative Party politicians.
GB News presenter and Tory MP Lee Anderson has branded Rayner the "nasty wing" of the Labour Party.
General secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) Union Mick Lynch said that while Rayner was making positive commitments, it would take a long time before they are delivered.
“It is not perfect, but it is better to have a Labour Party making these promises. In terms of the glass being half-full or half-empty, at least there is a glass with something in”, he said.
