Sacked Sam Tarry says he ‘absolutely’ believes Sir Keir Starmer should become PM
Mr Tarry was sacked from the frontbench on Wednesday hours after joining strikers at an RMT picket line at Euston station.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A former Labour shadow minister sacked after giving broadcast interviews from a picket line has said he “absolutely” still thinks Sir Keir Starmer is the best person to become prime minister.
Sam Tarry was sacked from the frontbench on Wednesday hours after joining strikers at an RMT picket line at Euston Station.
Joining another picket line at Paddington station in London on Saturday, the former shadow transport minister said it was “really important” for Labour MPs to show their solidarity with striking workers.
It came as members of Aslef in seven train companies walked out for 24 hours, crippling services in many parts of the country.
Mr Tarry told the PA news agency: “I believe Keir Starmer is absolutely still the best person to become prime minister and I’ll be campaigning every day for a Labour government.”
He added that the Labour Party needed a “fundamental recalibration” of its relationship with the trade union movement and needed to demonstrate it was on their side.
Sir Keir, who previously banned frontbenchers from joining picket lines, said Mr Tarry was sacked for booking himself onto media programmes without permission and making up policy “on the hoof”.
Mr Tarry also appeared alongside former party leader Jeremy Corbyn at a rally for striking BT workers on Friday.
The Labour MP for Ilford South said: “We should never have been in a situation where we had an edict that you can’t join a picket line.
“This is the Labour Party, the clue is in the name.
“We are the party founded by the trade unions.”
He said the link between the union movement and the Labour Party is “indivisible” and “part of the same fabric”.
Mr Tarry added: “For me to be here is about showing that the Labour Party and a massive majority of Labour Party members and MPs do support the striking workers.”
He said he had spoken to several MPs across the country who were backing the workers.