In a letter to Keir Starmer, Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, has raised concerns about Natalie Elphicke’s admission to the Parliamentary Labour Party.

Elphicke has spoken in favour of new anti-unions laws, branded “one of the most vicious attacks on workers rights in living memory”. During a debate in parliament, Elphicke blamed striking firefighters for the deaths of three people during a past national firefighters’ strike.

The letter describes her views as “a disgraceful attack on firefighters”. The letter read: “Attacking trade union members in this way to justify support for draconian anti-worker laws ought to be incompatible with membership of the Parliamentary Labour Party.”