PROMINENT Labour frontbencher Lisa Nandy has defied Keir Starmer’s orders by joining striking workers on a Communication Workers Union (CWU) picket line.
Thousands of BT and Openreach workers are on strike again on Monday in a dispute over pay.
Members of the Communication Workers Union, including call centre workers and engineers, are walking out for 24 hours following action on Friday.
It comes after RMT action last week saw further disruption to the railways, as thousands of workers fight for better pay and conditions.
Labour frontbencher Sam Tarry was sacked after appearing on an RMT picket line while conducting an interview with Good Morning Britain – though Starmer insisted the former shadow transport minister was not punished for attending the strike, instead criticising him for carrying out media rounds without the party’s permission and “making up policy on the hoof”.
Starmer’s decision to remove Tarry from the role led to a fierce backlash from trade unionists, with some threatening disaffiliation from the party.
On Monday, shadow levelling up secretary Nandy risked losing her own position as she defied the leader and visited striking workers in Wigan.
Tarry said it was “great” to see Nandy there supporting the workers.
“Senior Labour politicians need to demonstrate loud and clear that our party is on the side of ordinary working people who are fighting back against this anti-worker Government,” he said.
The union added: "Thank you to @lisanandy for joining the Wigan picket line today. It means a lot to our members."
Asked after Tarry’s sacking last week if further ministers would be fired for joining picket lines, Starmer said: “We take each case as it comes. I want to see these issues resolved.
He said the role of a “responsible government” is to get the key players around the table to resolve the issues.
Days before last week’s rail strikes, Starmer said: "The Labour Party in opposition needs to be the Labour Party in power. A government doesn’t go on picket lines, a government tries to resolve disputes."