Lucy Powell MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, responding to today’s Tory announcement on unions said:

“The Tories have run out of ideas for the country so are resorting to playing political games with the unions. They should be finding solutions to reach negotiated settlements to avoid industrial action.

"Most government ministers don’t manage to get 40 per cent of all eligible voters voting for them at elections, the Tories didn’t get anywhere near a majority at the last election and turnout in the elections they called on Police and Crime Commissioners was below 15 per cent.

"The current laws governing strikes were introduced by Margaret Thatcher - not exactly a friend of the unions.

"This general election is a once in a generation fight about who our country works for. A choice between a Tory Britain that works just for a privileged few at the top or a Labour Britain that puts working people first, deals with the deficit fairly and protects our NHS.”