UNIONS do not agree with the Labour increase to National Insurance contributions, Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan told the Prison Officers’ Association’s annual conference today.

Mr Whelan, who chairs the Tulo group of 11 Labour-affiliated unions, said he shared concerns over the £40 billion tax rise as he said that the government should ”not put the pain on the workers.”

“We didn’t elect you for more of the same,” he warned Labour from the Eastbourne conference.