Rishi Sunak needs ‘exit strategy’ from ‘1980s playbook’ on strikes, says TUC

Incoming general secretary, Paul Nowak, says PM has overestimated public support for confronting unions

Rishi Sunak needs an “exit strategy” from ongoing industrial disputes to avoid them escalating in the months ahead after overestimating public support for his “1980s playbook” approach to widespread strikes, the incoming TUC general secretary has said.

Paul Nowak, who takes over as Britain’s top union leader next month, predicted the government’s “war of attrition” against the unions would fail and accused ministers of having their “hands over their ears” about the severity of the situation.