Them & Us


Tory bullies…

The Tories have banned for life a leading activist allegedly responsible for Mafioso-level systematic bullying of members. Mark Clarke also faces accusations of assault, blackmail and sexual harassment.

The 38-year-old father of two was a central ‘youth’ organiser during the 2010 and 2015 election campaigns. Supposedly, Conservative leaders repeatedly ignored a series of complaints about his abusive behaviour. It took the tragic death of a 21-year-old Tory activist, who Clarke had apparently victimised, before HQ took action.

Sadly, this story comes as no surprise. The Trade Union Congress found this year that nearly a third of workers suffer bullying at work – 72% of which was bullying by management. The Conservatives are a party of the bosses, for the bosses.

…union bullies?

And yet the Tories have the gall to accuse trade unions – workers organising to defend each other – of ‘intimidation’.

Part of the justification for their latest anti-union laws is that strike breakers may feel ‘intimidated’ when crossing picket lines. Another example of ‘intimidation’ is general union Unite protesting near the mansions of bosses responsible for blacklisting and mass lay-offs.

Collectively withdrawing labour is the most effective weapon workers have to beat bullying bosses. Ensuring a strike is solid means it can be over quicker and get better results for all staff.

Strike breakers may feel ashamed when crossing a picket line – and rightly so.

But members of democratic unions persuading workers to fight alongside striking colleagues is one thing. Unelected managers and owners destroying entire livelihoods at a whim is quite another.