THE Conservative Party has today announced a manifesto commitment to imposing a 40 per cent threshold on strike ballots.

This divisive measure is an insult to British democratic values.

All ballots are traditionally decided by a simple majority and we do not reward abstentions by effectively counting them as a vote against the proposition in question.

The Tory MP for Congleton was elected in 2010 with the support of only 31.5 per cent of the electorate.

Will she now disown her party’s policy, or apply it to herself by resigning and seeking a mandate from at least 40 per cent of voters?

Nobody wants strikes, but the Government should not be seeking to outlaw the democratic decisions of workers. They should be focussed on maintaining good industrial relations, helping businesses prosper and providing economic growth.

David Williams Middlewich trade union member