TUC backs rights to protest

The motion, supported by UCU, highlighted the importance of the right of citizens in a democracy to protest. It warned that since the student protests last year there have been attempts to bring in draconian measures to silence the voice of dissent.
 
It also drew attention to the fact that in this country we suffer some of the strictest regulations on strikes in Europe. The motion said that for all the government's talk about turnouts in union ballots, only 38 MPs would have been able to take up their seats following the last general election under the balloting restrictions the government wants to see introduced.