Durham Miners’ Association chair STEPHEN GUY speaks to Ben Chacko about the Reform threat, what’s needed from Labour and why the Big Meeting will never lose its politics
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What to do now union bashing is back in fashion
GRANVILLE WILLIAMS warns of a clear, well co-ordinated pattern of collusion between government ministers and the right-wing press to scapegoat unions for the failings of neoliberalism
![Durham Miners' Gala 2026 [Pic: Neil Terry]](https://morningstaronline.co.uk/sites/default/files/styles/desktop/public/2026-07/SSS_20260711_DURHAM_MINERS_GALA_0-21.jpg.webp?itok=NUVjowji)
Andy Burnham’s message of hope will defeat Reform if Labour delivers the New Deal for Working People in full, says JOANNE THOMAS
General Federation of Trade Unions president and bakers’ union general secretary, SARAH WOOLLEY, guides us through the GFTU’s Summer School happening this week at Quorn Grange Hotel
The government’s latest asylum proposals abandon labour movement values and fuel division by aping Reform UK, writes DIANE ABBOTT MP
Can Andy Burnham’s programme deliver a productive economy – or merely a softer version of capitalism, asks VINCE MILLS
IAN LAVERY MP warns that decades of neoliberal policies have left former industrial communities behind — but a renewed Labour commitment to working people could change the political landscape
TRADE UNIONS are back in the news with a vengeance. Liz Truss used her acrimonious BBC Tory leadership debate with Rishi Sunak to announce she wants to curb the ability of trade unions to take strike action in key sectors of the economy like teaching, the postal service and energy.
Back in June, during the three days of strikes by the RMT, transport secretary Grant Shapps announced plans to introduce legislation to make it legal for employers to bring in agency staff to replace striking workers.
The controversial change came into force on July 21 and a day later the public service union Unison announced it would challenge the legality of the government’s action.
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