MIDDLESBROUGH councillors have voted unanimously to write to the prime minister to demand he bans an employment practice that disproportionately impacts BAME workers.
Since 2020, across the country, one in 10 workers has experienced ‘fire and rehire’, according to Trades Union Congress research.
This is where people are told to reapply for their jobs often on worse pay, terms, and conditions or face the sack.
The TUC found that this impacted BAME workers at twice the rate of white workers.
Labour group leader Cllr Matt Storey brought forward the motion at the full council meeting on Wednesday, November 24 against fire and rehire and he was backed by Cllr David Branson.
Cllr Branson said: “The point of fire and rehire is nearly always to worsen people’s working conditions.
“I have seen over my lifetime, the working conditions of people considerably worsen in this country, specifically in comparison to how it is in the rest of Europe.”
The motion, which passed, called on Middlesbrough Council to write to Boris Johnson to demand that he outlaw fire and rehire.
It also says that Middlesbrough Council will promote the increasing number of employers who prioritise their workers’ standard of living and well-being, as well as working with key partners to bring forward plans to ensure all organisations have best employment practice.
However, the motion was amended before it was passed and councillors voted to remove the clause which meant that the council would have to write to the TUC to indicate support for its campaign for a ‘New Deal for Working People’.
Cllr Alan Bell, part of the Middlesbrough Independent Councillors Association, said that he agreed with the majority of the motion but suggested that writing to the TUC was removed as he had not read the ‘New Deal for Working People’.
Cllr Storey did not want to see the TUC section removed, he said that papers go out before the meeting and he was disappointed that people hadn’t taken the time to read the document mentioned in the motion.
Cllr Bell responded by stating that he had looked online but the document comes in a booklet, which costs 10p and it needs to be posted out, before adding that he didn’t like to vote for something that he hadn’t read.
The TUC’s ‘New Deal for Working People’ can be read for free online and you can order one copy of the booklet for free, further copies cost 10p.
(Local Democracy Reporting Service)
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)