Tempers frayed after union debate
Tory MP Aidan Burley managed to incense the Labour benches last night during his adjournment debate on public funding for trade union officials.
There was an impressive turnout for an adjournment debate - at times there were more than 40 members in the chamber.
Labour MP Tom Blenkinsop told him the government needs unions on side "to deal with the vast amounts of people and to keep the costs of human resources down".
"Adjournment debates such as this provoke poor industrial relations," he added.
Burley was barracked - leading the deputy Speaker Dawn Primarolo to remind MPs:
"This adjournment debate is being televised. The behaviour of members does not always reflect well on them. The honourable member who has secured this adjournment debate is entitled to be heard."
After the House had adjourned and the Mace had been lifted, there was a "full and frank exchange of views" between Burley and some Labour MPs.
One Tory colleague was worried it would become physical.
"They were squaring up, I thought there might be a fight," he said.
In the end no fists were flying, but the debate and the confrontation afterwards were a reminder of the passions raised on both sides by the trade unions.
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