Len McCluskey compares himself to Mandela and Gandhi after calling for illegal strikes
UNION boss Len McCluskey has been attacked as “arrogant” after comparing himself to Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi for backing illegal strike action.
Mr McCluskey, who is one of Jeremy Corbyn’s most important backers, called for illegal strikes which he compared to the world-changing actions of the suffragettes, Mandela and Gandhi.
Speaking at the Trades Union Congress Mr McCluskey said: “I don’t know if I’m going to jail. The reality is that the law is wrong and it has to be resisted.
“I dare say if you’d have been interviewing Nelson Mandela or Mahatma Gandhi or the suffragettes you’d be telling them that they were breaking the law.”
He continued: “The truth is when a law is wrong, not only it is important to stand up and say so, it is our duty to resist.”
Conservative MPs responded to the controversial comments by claiming the Unite leader was “laughable”.
Mr McCluskey said he would defy the law which requires strike action to need to be supported by a ballot with a turnout of more than 50 per cent.
Unite's Len McCluskey SNAPS at reporter over Corbyn questions
To compare himself to such people shows the vanity of a peacock
Tory MP Jacob Rees Mogg said: “To compare himself to such people shows the vanity of a peacock. Breaking the law in a democracy is fundamentally different from doing so in an authoritarian state. Our laws are validated by the consent of the people.”
MP for Brentwood and Ongar, Alex Burghart, also rounded on Mr McCluskey saying: “McCluskey’s no Mandela - breaking British law just because you disagree with is a pretty arrogant thing to do.”
While fellow Tory MP called the union boss a “simple thug” and accused him of trying to “overturn” an election result because he did not agree with its result.
Senior Labour MP Richard Burgon refused to rule out backing the proposed illegal strike action.
While his party leader Mr Corbyn promised to get rid of the public sector pay cap completely if he becomes Prime Minister.
Downing Street described Mr McCluskey’s statement as “irresponsible.”
Other union bosses have rejected Government plans to end the 1 per cent pay cap for police and prison officers but not for other public sector workers.
They called for an above inflation rise for all public sector workers above inflation.