Rayner quick to bin union ties after rat army gnaws picket

ANGELA Rayner's response to the bin crisis in Birmingham sums up perfectly the hypocrisy that runs through Labour's veins like a disease.

- Sam Lister

A darling of the trade union movement for most of her life, the Deputy Prime Minister has suddenly realised picket lines are a slight snag if you are trying to run a country. Rayner pleaded with Unite to suspend strikes and accept an "improved deal" on a visit to the second city, where rats are growing fat on rotting waste left on streets.

She added: "The people of Birmingham are our first priority — this dispute is causing misery and disruption to residents and the backlog must be dealt with quickly to address public health risks."

Any trade unionist worth their salt knows the only point of strike action is to cause disruption to ordinary people. It is only when the public suffers that they have any power.

On her official "about me" page, Rayner states proudly: "From the beginning of my working life, I've always stood up for working people, first as a Trade Union rep representing care workers and then as a regional union official. Now I use the skills I've developed to represent the communities of Ashton-under-Lyne."

T GOES on to explain how she was put forward by her women workmates to speak for them as a union rep with Unison because she was "mouthy" and "would take no messing from management".