UNION bosses and Labour MPs in Bolton have slammed the government’s “Stalinist” Trade Union Bill, which was debated for the first time in the House of Commons today.

The government wants to introduce new rules which would impose a minimum of 50 per cent turnout in strike ballots — and rule that public sector action would require the backing of at least 40 per cent of those eligible to vote.

Other measures in the Trade Union Bill seek to introduce fines for unions if they do no appoint an official picket supervisor, double the amount of notice unions must give before striking and allow employers to use agency workers to replace striking staff.

Unions in Bolton have said that the proposed legislation would “undermine the very organisation of a Trade Union” and “tie the hands of workers".

Andrea Egan, assistant branch secretary of Bolton Unison, said: “It is a clever move of the government while they are bringing in these huge cuts, to try and tie the hands of union members.

“They are trying to put workers on their knees so bosses can come along and announce changes to terms and conditions and they can’t do anything.”

She said that unions had been boosted by the election of left-winger Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour party on Saturday.

She added: “It feels like although we are in a dire situation with this government, we have a glimmer of hope with Jeremy, because he is a leader who supports our cause — the fire is back in our bellies.”

Both of Bolton’s Labour MPs voted against the bill during the second reading in the house, with Bolton South East MP Yasmin Qureshi labelling elements of it as “Stalinist".

She said: “I also think that if the government wants to bring in these rules for turnouts and results then the same should apply to General Elections, which they currently don’t.”

David Crausby, who represents Bolton North East said: “Regardless of who our new leader is — I would always be voting against legislation that looks to shackle the trade unions more than they already are.

“The right to strike is a fundamental. British members and I think the whole party is united against this.”

Conservative MP for Bolton West, Chris Green, who voted in favour of the bill said: “The Trade Union movement has a proud history of defending workers’ rights but we need a movement fit for the 21st century that respects the rights of members but also the rights of everyone else in society.”