Trade Union Bill: Sajid Javid drops social media measures as part of Government climb down

The scrapped measures would have required those taking part in industrial action to tell police how they palnned to use social media

Business secretary Sajid Javid speaking in the House of Commons (BBC)

Business secretary Sajid Javid appears to have made a partial climb down on part of the Government’s controversial Trade Union Bill.

Measures that would have required all of those taking part in industrial action tell police how they planned to use social media sites like Facebook and Twitter have been dropped by the Department for Business and Skills.

The proposal had drawn criticism from human rights organisations such as Liberty and Amnesty International, while it was labelled “illiberal, unfair and unnecessary” by TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady.

“The Government has no intention of making every individual on the picket line give their names to the authorities,” wrote skills minister Nick Boles in the Government response to the consultation on the Bill.

“Nor do we want to stop strikers using social media or require them to seek police approval for Tweets before they are posted,” he added. “There is also nothing in the Bill that facilitates the illegal practice of blacklisting.”

Unions welcomed the news but said the Bill was still a threat to civil liberties.

“The Government is clearly beginning to feel the pressure to amend this draconian and unnecessary Bill,” said Ms O’Grady, adding that it was “a ridiculous plan.”

“Today’s announcement doesn’t change the fact that this Bill is a huge threat to civil liberties,” she added. “Picket supervisors will still have to give their name and contact details to the police, and unions still face court injunctions and possible damages if an organiser forgets to wear an armband.”