OUTGOING Labour MP and RMT parliamentary group chairman Ian Mearns thanked delegates at the union’s AGM in Hull today for their campaigning efforts, after receiving its prestigious gold medal.

Mr Mearns, who represented the Gateshead constituency, has been a stalwart for transport workers, playing a crucial role in advocating for RMT in the Commons. 

In an emotional address, he said: “I never saw myself becoming an MP. In 2010, my constituency went through a democratic process and selected me to represent my home town.

“It has been a great honour to represent my home town and to be your parliamentary chair.”

Mr Mearns chided Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, strongly suggesting that the only reason he had called an early general election and progued parliament two days later was to forestall further letters from Tory MPs calling for his resignation. 

He added that the election of a Labour government was vital, even though the party’s manifesto was not perfect. 

“The imperative at this election is to get the Tories out,” Mr Mearns insisted.

“I know the manifesto is not as an enticing as I would like it to be, but [what is important is] to end this [Tory] psychodrama.”

Expressing the thanks of the conference for Mr Mearns’s contribution, Jim Buchanan of Dorset Rail branch heaped praise on the former MP as a committed fighter for transport workers.