WATCH: Labour MP calls for general strike if Tories refuse to hold general election
2 min read
British workers should launch the first general strike in nearly a century in an effort to bring down the Conservative government if they refuse to hold an election, a Labour MP has said.
Laura Smith, the MP for Crewe and Nantwich MP said the mass industrial action may be necessary to "topple" the Tories.
Speaking at the Momentum-run The World Transformed festival running parallel to Labour’s annual party conference in Liverpool, she 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.”
The comment won a standing ovation from the room - including from Shadow Cabinet member Richard Burgon and fellow Labour backbencher LLoyd Russell-Moyle.
However, Shadow Business Secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey slammed the suggestion, saying: “That's not our position."
She told the BBC: “We're certainly not advocating general strikes as Labour party policy."
Deputy leader Tom Watson meanwhile told the Today programme: "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."
The last general strike took place in 1926, and saw 1.7 million workers across the country down tools for nine days to prevent wage cuts.
Labour has been urging the Government to call a general election amid turmoil over Brexit negotiations.
Speaking yesterday, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said it was the party’s preferred option over a second EU referendum.
He told the BBC’s Today programme: “We’re respecting the referendum. We want a general election,
“If we can’t get that we’ll have a people’s vote.”
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