I am – of course – disappointed by the Guardian’s decision to back the Lib Dems. I make no bones about it, I have read the Guardian all of my life and share many of it’s values. Indeed share many of the values that have led to this decision. But in the fierce heat of a global recession, I don’t think now is the time to vote for a party of the “middle and lower middle classes” but a party whose “record on poverty remains unmatched”. I want Labour to adopt some more liberal policies 0n civil rights and I’m in favour of voting reform. But now is the worst possible time to abandon the poor or workers rights. The Guardian choosing May Day – the international day of celebration of workers rights – to make this decision shows how far removed from their priorities these important rights are.

The Labour Party are the party who have brought in statutory union recognition, health and safety legislation, paid maternity and paternity leave, the social chapter, the working time directive and the national minimum wage. OECD figures show that around the world, countries which have collective bargaining rights also have greatly reduced inequalities.

Today is a day to celebrate the achievements of unions in the UK and internationally. I’m sorry the Guardian couldn’t have waited one more day to move away from the cause of workers rights, and spent today pushing their now chosen party on issues on which their record is poor at best.

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