Yvette Cooper to fight Government's Trade Union Bill arguing that it contravenes human-rights law

'I am not going to stand back while this Government takes aim at hard-fought workers’ rights'

Yvette Cooper attends a question and answer session with party supporters at the County Hall buildings on August 17, 2015 (Getty)

Labour leadership contender Yvette Cooper is considering legal action against the Government’s new Trade Union Bill, arguing that it contravenes human-rights law.

The Bill curbs the amount of money that Labour could receive from the unions, traditionally the party’s biggest source of funding.

It would also make strikes incredibly difficult to undertake because they would only be legal if 50 per cent of the membership voted in a ballot. Currently a strike can go ahead if a union obtains a simple majority of those who vote.

Ms Cooper is expected to say: “I am not going to stand back while this Government takes aim at hard-fought workers’ rights and abuses their small majority to try to destroy the Labour Party in opposition.

This Bill is an ideological attempt to restrict the trade-union and Labour movements’ ability to advance or defend the interests of ordinary people and their families. If the Tories force it through, we need to be ready to take the unusual move of challenging them in the courts.”

Her legal advice is that the legislation would undermine freedom of association as set out in the European Convention on Human Rights.