TRADE unionists and civil rights campaigners held a series of protests yesterday as MPs debated the oppressive Trade Union Bill in Parliament.

A 22-metre banner reading: “Stop the Anti-Union Bill” was hung opposite the House of Commons in the morning by members of the Right to Strike (RTS) campaign.

In the evening, dozens of supporters of the group, as well as the Defend Our Unions and Kill the Bill lobbies marched on Parliament Square in protest against the Conservatives’ flagship policy.

Bakers’ union BFAWU president Ian Hodson, who spoke at the rally, told the Star he was moved to speak out as he didn’t “think this should be left unchallenged.

“This is an attack on democracy, an attack on the union movement and has significant implications for the labour movement and working people as a whole.

“This will criminalise our members — people in struggle, people who are fighting for better pay or against zero-hours contracts.

“This could make them targets for different groups.”

Last week, RTS campaigners served Business Secretary Sajid Javid a mock High Court injunction banning him from his political office.

Campaigners argued that Mr Javid was not fit for the post as he was elected with a lower turnout than the one the Tory frontbencher wants to make unions attain in order to strike.

“It is the height of hypocrisy for a government elected by just 24 per cent of the public to tell us that we need a minimum turnout to carry out our democratic decisions,” said RTS spokeswoman Ruth Cashman.