A BAN on trade union membership for some workers was among proposals for the government’s next attack on workers’ rights, according to emails leaked from No 10.

In a move reminiscent of Margaret Thatcher’s ban on trade union membership at the government’s intelligence gathering base GCHQ in 1984, the ban was considered by the current government along with banning strike action in certain sectors and forcing unions to provide minimum levels of service during strike action, the government’s eventual choice.

The government is reported to have considered targeting Border Force workers for the ban.