Labour frontbenchers dismiss MP Laura Smith's call for general strike to 'topple' the Tories
3 min read
A string of Labour frontbenchers have dismissed Laura Smith’s call for workers to hold a general strike to help “topple” the Conservatives.
Deputy leader Tom Watson, Shadow Business Secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey and Shadow Justice Secretary Richard Burgon all moved to shut down the Crewe and Nantwich MP’s call for a mass walkout - as the row threatened to overshadow Jeremy Corbyn’s big Labour conference speech.
Ms Smith told the The World Transformed festival - which runs alongside Labour's annual conference in Liverpool - that unions should ask workers to down tools in a bid to bring down the Government if Theresa May refuses to call a general election.
The backbencher said: “Comrades, we must topple this cruel and callous Tory government as soon as we can.
“And if we can’t get a general election we should organise our brothers in the trade unions to bring an end to this government with a general strike.”
But deputy leader Tom Watson heaped scorn on the proposals in an interview with the Today programme, saying Ms Smith had gotten "carried away".
He said: "It’s not particularly helpful but she is a new MP and she was at a big fringe event – nothing to do with the party organisation.
“I’m sure she got a little bit carried away with herself.
"If you actually look at the history of the general strike most trade unions will tell you it was an absolute failure for the working class.”
His frontbench colleague Rebecca Long-Bailey also slammed the suggestion, saying: “That's not our position."
She told the BBC: “We're certainly not advocating general strikes as Labour party policy."
Shadow Justice Secretary Richard Burgon - who was filmed applauding Ms Smith’s speech - meanwhile said a general strike was "not going to happen", as he denied leading a "standing ovation" for her.
Mr Burgon said he had “stood up and clapped” Ms Smith because of her background as “a non-career politician who is now making a real difference in Parliament”.
“She made a fantastic speech,” he said.
“Laura is a single parent from Crewe. Not a career politician, who just over a year ago was wondering what contribution she could make to trying to get a Labour government. Her life story, her story of activism was very inspiring. Not a career politician. She had a lot of things to say.”
But, asked if he backed the MP's call for coordinated industrial action, the Shadow Justice Secretary said: “No. And a general strike isn't Labour policy. It's not TUC policy. It's not going to happen."
The last general strike took place in 1926, and saw 1.7 million workers across the country down tools in a bid to stop coal mine owners slashing miners’ wages.
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