New Times,
New Thinking.

  1. Politics
28 November 2011

Miliband: I don’t support strikes

Labour leader distances himself from the unions ahead of Wednesday's strike.

By George Eaton

With Wednesday’s strike looming ever closer, Ed Miliband has issued the closest thing we’ve seen to a condemnation of the action.

Speaking today in Croydon, he said: “Strikes are always a sign of failure but I’m not going to demonise the people who are taking the action.”

“I don’t support strikes because they are always a sign of failure.”

As Labour List’s Mark Ferguson notes, Miliband’s words imply that he is against all strikes, whatever the issue. That may or may not be the case but it’s worth remembering that no Labour leader has ever officially supported a strike.

Content from our partners
Building Britain’s water security
How to solve the teaching crisis
Pitching in to support grassroots football

Give a gift subscription to the New Statesman this Christmas from just £49