THE TUC postponed its annual Congress, due to begin this weekend, today following the announcement of the Queen’s death a day earlier.

Strikes were suspended by the Communication Workers Union, services union the PCS and rail unions Aslef, RMT and TSSA.

Unions announced the suspension of activity as a gesture of respect to the deceased monarch.

Parliament began a 10-day suspension of business and a period of mourning customary following. It will sit only for tributes to the Queen from MPs.

The Labour Party suspended all meetings and campaigning and local authorities of different political colours cancelled events scheduled to be held using public buildings and spaces.

Bakers’ union BFAWU general secretary Sarah Woolley said: “The decision to postpone TUC Congress is completely understandable after the news of the Queen dying on Thursday.

“[But] the cost-of-living crisis, though, hasn’t and will not go away — and we have a lot of work to do over the coming months as a movement to support working people through it.

“When the TUC does meet, we will have a clearer idea of the political landscape with [Liz] Truss as Prime Minister and this will inform our strategy.”

One cancelled event was the Wigan Diggers’ Festival, which celebrates the life of Gerrard Winstanley, founder of the Diggers or True Levellers movement after the English civil wars of 1642 to 1651.

Winstanley was born in Wigan, in what is now Greater Manchester, and was a radical campaigner for what is now seen as a form of agrarian communism.

His followers set up colonies on common land.

His belief was “the earth shall be a common treasury for all” and he welcomed the overthrow of the oppressor Charles I, the namesake of the new King and the Queen’s eldest son.

Organisers of the festival said: “Unfortunately, Wigan Council have taken a decision to cancel public events in the immediate future, including The Diggers Festival.

“We are sorry to share this news at what is undoubtedly a sad time for so many.

“The place where the festival was supposed to be taking place will now be the focal point for official mourning within the borough.

“At this stage, we do not know what will happen to the festival, but we will update you as soon as we know.”

Communist Party of Britain general secretary Rob Griffiths said: “The Communist Party is a serious party with a programme for socialist revolution.

“Our view of the monarchy and the case for its abolition by democratic consent is independent of the character of members of the royal family at any given time.

“As a party of life, hope and serious intent, we do not relish the death of any individual.

“Millions of people face enormous challenges in the weeks and months ahead and the role of the Communist Party is to prepare and mobilise for the battles ahead, not to indulge in infantile posturing or to attack trade unions in struggle for their tactical decisions.”

Republic, the movement campaigning for an end to the monarchy, said it was saddened by the death.

The campaign sent condolences to the Windsor family and said: “There will be plenty of time to debate the monarchy’s future.

“For now, we must respect the family’s personal loss and allow them and others to mourn the loss of a mother, grandmother and great grandmother.”