KEIR STARMER “might as well be rolling out the red carpet for Nigel Farage,” National Education Union general secretary Daniel Kebede told a packed Campaign for Trade Union Freedom eve-of-Gala meeting on Friday night.

The NEU leader condemned Labour’s reluctance to invest in public services to make up for years of Tory cuts, pointing out that pay awards for teachers that weren’t tied to budget increases meant cuts to support staff, maintenance and services.

But he stressed that Labour had been moved on funding by union pressure, arguing for mobilisation to counter its right-wing trajectory.

Mr Kebede acknowledged talk of a new left party, but stressed that without an increase in the size and militancy of the trade union movement an effective left fightback would be impossible.

The meeting also heard a defiant message from Mike Masters of the Birmingham bin strike, Lord John Hendy KC address the weaknesses in the Employment Rights Bill and greetings from City of Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy.