The right to strike is an important one, but it is not one that should be unfettered. The public and private sectors should be treated equally.

Behind the cosy democratic facade, Britain is a cut-throat economic dictatorship. A rich and powerful economic elite makes all the key economic decisions, excluding millions of employees and consumers.

Facility time is an unfair taxpayer-funded subsidy to unions, which frees up money for campaigns. It should be scrapped and paid for out of union coffers.

The decision made by virtually every public sector union at the TUC yesterday was nothing short of historic. In my 10 years as leader of the PCS union, I have never known so many unions to be united and resolute.