Rumour has it that Grahame Morris is considering resigning over Ed Miliband's refusal to back the strikes tomorrow.
Although currently unconfirmed, the PPS to shadow climage change secretary Meg Hillier is said to be dismayed by the Labour leader's statement on the strikes yesterday.
He supposedly views Ed Miliband's position as pandering to the right of the party.
Sources close to Morris say that they are trying to talk him out of it before midday, but he is apparently "very close" to resigning as PPS.
Last night, Ed Miliband condemned the strikes, calling for both sides to "think again".
"Strikes are a sign of failure on both sides and Thursday's industrial action is a mistake," he said.
"I understand why teachers are so angry with the government. But I urge them to think about whether causing disruption in the classroom will help people understand their arguments. You do not win public backing about pensions by inconveniencing the public – especially not while negotiations are ongoing."
UPDATE: After almost a week of deliberation, it was confirmed that Morris was "back on board". Will fill in with more details about his 'hiccup' if I get them.
Comments
Editor of GEER UK / June 29 2011 12:29pm
Update on GEER website:
We must distinguish between Labour's values and a difference in strategic opinion between the Union leaders and the Labour leadership.
Both the LP leadership and the Unions oppose the Conservative-led government's assault on our Public Services and education. They differ on strategy but as a GEER member has written in response to our statement:
‘No-one takes strike action lightly. It is not a recreational activity and the right to withdraw your labour is a fundamental freedom that has to be protected.
The overwhelming support for the strike - and from members (not those pantomime bad guys, the 'union barons') of unions not exactly noted for their militancy - speaks for itself. There is genuine anger at the bullying of the public sector workforce by the Tories and their attempts to justify their actions by seeking to set private sector workers against them have added to that. Labour has to recognise this is a wholly legitimate and logical response to the disgraceful actions of the Government. And recognise too that that anger could all too easily rebound on those .......... who either do not or are not seen to be standing by them.
If we in the Labour Party are not 100% behind those who are facing quite unprecedented attacks on the livelihoods - and there are millions of them - then why should we expect them to support us? We must show our support and oppose the Tory tactic of the race to the bottom, of using the lowest common denominator to set working people against each other. For if we are not for them, who is?’