Last night, after a series of votes the Scotland Bill which delivers more powers to the Scottish Parliament as agreed after the Scottish Independence Referendum, cleared all its stages in the House of Commons and now passes for consideration to the House of Lords. Today it is the final stages of the Trade Union Bill.

Not surprisingly hundreds of Trade Union members have contacted me urging me to oppose the Bill. Most just sending me a standard email generated by their Union. The vast majority of Trade Union members in Bury never mind non-Trade Union members have not contacted me. I support the Bill as I believe the vast majority of residents in Bury Ramsbottom and Tottington would support the proposals:
• A 50% turn-out threshold for all ballots for industrial action;

• A 40% support threshold for important public services such the fire, health, education, transport, nuclear decommissioning sectors, and the Border Force.

• A 4-month limit to the validity of strike ballot mandates, after which the mandate expires.

• A Requirement that ballot papers include the details of the dispute, what type of industrial action is proposed, and the time period for the action to take place. This will allow union members to make informed decisions about what they are voting for or against.