The University and College Union (UCU) has laid the groundwork for its first-ever strike ballot against a Labour government.

The union voted in favour of preparing for an industrial dispute with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson at its annual congress in Liverpool yesterday.

The move is the first step towards a formal strike ballot.

The UCU is demanding that the Education Secretary address funding issues in the sector in order to avoid the dispute.

Shrinking funding for universities, which Labour has not reversed since coming to power, alongside moves to restrict international students are among the concerns the UCU said its members share.

It has also raised the alarm over 10,000 higher education jobs which it says are at risk and pushed back against redundancies in Cardiff and Sheffield.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “It is shameful that university cuts have become so severe under a Labour government that our union is now laying the ground for a trade union dispute with the Education Secretary.

“Our members are fighting to protect jobs and UK academia’s world-leading reputation. 

“But we are being hamstrung by a government that has refused to deal with the underlying financial issues plaguing our sector and now seems intent on making the crisis worse still with new cuts, levies and restrictions on recruitment.

“The Prime Minister and Chancellor must stop standing in the way of proper funding for our universities.

“This vote sends them a crystal-clear message: if you refuse to listen to the educators responsible for the world-leading reputation of Britain’s universities, then you must be prepared to face a potential strike ballot.”

Meanwhile, UCU members at the University of Dundee will begin a five-day strike today over threatened job losses and staff facing compulsory redundancy.