Sunak says anti-strike law is in line with other countries – here’s why that’s not true

Thousands of protesters braved sub-zero temperatures to demonstrate outside Downing Street against a controversial new Bill restricting the right to strike.

Mick Lynch, leader of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, and a number of Labour backbenchers and the SNP’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn were among those gathered on Monday evening.

Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union and Unison were also present at the demonstration, which coincided with the second reading of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill in Parliament.

The legislation would see the right to strike restricted by imposing minimum service levels.

Bosses would be legally able to fire employees who ignore a notice requiring them to work on days of industrial action.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak has claimed the legislation is “in common with countries like France, Italy and Spain”, but according to Peter Stefanovic that is not true.

Here’s why:

Jack Peat

Jack is a business and economics journalist and the founder of The London Economic (TLE). He has contributed articles to VICE, Huffington Post and Independent and is a published author. Jack read History at the University of Wales, Bangor and has a Masters in Journalism from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.