Labor leaders who opposed Keir Starmer’s appearance in the queue were encouraged to make public apologies or risk disciplinary action, although some shadow cabinet members called on the Labor leader to drop the question.
Several front-runners were photographed with striking RMT workers on Tuesday, despite explicit instructions from Starmer to stay away.
The Guardian understands that some of the rebel MPs involved have been asked to issue a statement explaining their presence.
A high-ranking party source jokingly suggested that a junior panel of judges had been asked to claim that they had been “planted by a picket line” – a reference to an apology used to explain Boris Johnson’s presence on his own birthday.
Another source, an MP, said the whips “are threatening people right now, trying to make them apologize”. It is unclear what the consequences would be if they refused to apologize.
Starmer, meanwhile, has come under pressure from some members of his shadow cabinet to drop the threat of disciplinary action.
A shadow minister said it would be “outrageous” to warn or even fire Labor lawmakers for showing solidarity with the striking railway workers.
Another shadow cabinet member suggested it was the right decision to encourage lawmakers to stay away from the strike front, as Labor is trying to look like a future government – but wrong to turn it into a show of force.
A final decision on how to deal with the wrong MPs is not expected until the RMT strikes end this week.
Five front courts opposed Starmer’s order, issued in a note from the leader’s office on Monday, telling his shadow cabinet that they should discuss with their teams the need to show “leadership” by standing aside.
“Please note that front bench benches, including PPS [parliamentary private secretaries] they should not be on picket lines, “the statement said.
In this case, three PPS, a junior minister, Alex Sobel, and a whip, Nav Mishra, posted photos of him attending the first of three days of industrial action on Tuesday.
Scottish Labor leader Anas Sarwar, who was also pictured with striking railroad workers, tweeted that the government was to blame for failing to prevent industrial action.
Starmer’s deputy, Angela Raynor, a former union representative who has regularly appeared on picket lines in the past, also tweeted her support for the RMT strike without being present, saying “workers are left with no choice.”
Starmer’s decision to order colleagues to give a broad stance on the picket lines has sparked outrage among many Labor lawmakers.
Some leaders even privately suggest that if one of their colleagues is fired by Starmer as a result, they will show their anger by attending a picket line themselves.
Starmer has tried not to be caricatured by conservatives as a supporter of strikes – the most common action in the railways for three decades.
A Labor source said: “Keir’s Labor Party is on the side of society and our decisions are guided by that. Not everyone will like it and we are prepared for it, but it will prove to be a serious operation, a serious government in anticipation and so we will win the election. “
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Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Hay has repeatedly attacked her opposing number, Grant Shaps, for refusing to sit down with both sides and try to negotiate a deal.
The Labor leader has also repeatedly taken the opportunity to demonstrate that he uses a different approach from his predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn, a staunch supporter of union action who is often seen in queues for pickets. In his first months in office, Starmer’s slogan was “new leadership.”
Asked by Prime Minister, Starmer cited the disruption of rail transport, along with a series of government failures, including delays in renewing passports and canceled flights. He said the government had not “moved a finger” to prevent the strikes.
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