Tory snobs shout lawyer down as they target union rights

Conservative Trade Union Reform campaigners applauded Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles, who said: "Right chums, we have to end the abuses of trade union facility time," before dashing off in the direction of the free refreshments.

And they cheered at shamed former defence secretary Liam Fox, forced to resign after giving close chum Adam Werrity special treatment including joining official trips overseas, when he called current trade union rights an "absolute disgrace."

Equally shamed MP Aidan Burley urged a "call to arms," encouraging attendees to stitch up colleagues by passing any information they have of trade unionists who they feel are taking too much facility time on to the Trade Union Reform Campaign (TURC).

"Frances Maude's reforms to trade union facility time in the Civil Service is down to a year of hard work by our campaign group but we have to see them being introduced across the public sector," he said.

They also said the Cabinet Minister's reforms must go much further in future.

But when their spoutings were challenged by African, Caribbean and Asian Lawyers Group member and trade union supporter Renu Marley, they did not allow her to finish.

"I came here hoping to hear a proper discussion but feel very disappointed," she said.

"I've seen great successes achieved by unions including fighting for women's rights and helping to prevent child poverty."

But she was prevented from finishing by TURC chief executive Mark Clarke who bluntly brushed her off.

"I think we get the point," he said, before calling the meeting to a close.