PMQs: Rishi Sunak working on 'tough' new anti-strike laws

Rail workers are among those set to strike in the coming weeks

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said he is working on "new tough laws" to protect people from strike disruption.

He told MPs if "union leaders continue to be unreasonable, then it is my duty to take action to protect the lives and livelihoods of the British public".

But Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer pointed to comments from the transport secretary suggesting new laws would not help with current industrial action.

Nurses, paramedics and rail staff are among those set to strike this winter.

The latest strikes to be announced are by Border Force staff at several airports, who are walking out over Christmas in a row over pay, jobs and conditions.

A bill has been introduced to Parliament which would ensure minimum service levels on transport networks during strikes but it is yet to be debated by MPs and peers.

Downing Street said the legislation would be extended to other services but would not specify what these would be and no timescale was given.

The prime minister's official spokesman said work was "ongoing" on other options for mitigating future industrial action.

Pressed repeatedly, he refused to rule out a ban on strike action by emergency services.

Asked by the BBC if he would consider banning strikes in emergency services, the prime minister said the "government is always going to be reasonable" but refused to rule it out.

Mr Sunak said: "My priority is making sure that I keep people safe, and that I minimise the disruption on their lives, and I will do what is required to do that."

• The strikes taking place in December

• Analysis: Why the government line on strikes is hardening

• A brief guide: people are striking, what does it mean?

• When are the next train strikes?

Earlier, Transport Secretary Mark Harper told MPs the bill currently before Parliament "may well improve the service passengers receive on strike days" in the future but it would not "help with the industrial action that we face today".

He added that his "priority" was to resolve the industrial dispute with rail unions "so that passengers don't have strike days".

During Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Sunak called on Sir Keir to "stand up for working people" and support the minimum service levels legislation.

He accused Labour Party of refusing to back workers and businesses who would be affected by the strikes.

But Sir Keir said the prime minister "should stop grandstanding, stop sitting on his hands, get round the table and resolve these issues".

TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Rather than attempting cheap political pot shots, the government should be getting around the table and negotiating with unions about pay."

Labour has said it would oppose the "unworkable" minimum service levels legislation, but a spokeswoman said she could not commit to repealing it if the party took power as the laws had not yet been brought in.

Asked what action Labour would take on strike laws, she said the party would repeal the "archaic" legislation introduced under the Conservatives in 2016.

The 2016 Trade Union Act does not allow online ballots for strikes and brought in higher thresholds for industrial action in key public services.

Unions are calling for pay rises to keep up with the cost of living.

Inflation - the rate at which prices rise - is currently running at 11.1%, the highest level for 40 years.

But the government says increasing pay with inflation is unaffordable in the current economic climate.

Mr Sunak insisted the government had been "reasonable" and had accepted the recommendations of independent pay review bodies for public sector workers.

The long-running dispute with rail unions is also about job cuts and changes to terms and conditions.

It has already caused many days of disruption this year, bringing much of the network to a standstill on strike days, with more walkouts planned over Christmas.

Meanwhile, ambulance staff across most of England and Wales are also going on strike on 21 December in a dispute over pay, while nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will walk out for two days in December.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay said he was "ready to work with trade unions" on issues like staffing levels and conditions.

However, asked if he was willing to improve his pay offer to NHS staff, Mr Barclay told the BBC that was a matter for the independent pay review body.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir also used PMQs to attack Mr Sunak as weak, describing him as a "blancmange prime minister".

He accused the prime minister of "crippling" housebuilding by watering down targets for local councils in the face of a rebellion from Conservative MPs.

Mr Sunak defended the move as giving people a say on building decisions in their area.