Labour’s deputy leader has criticised the actions of some UK universities during the ongoing industrial disputes in a rare show of support for striking academics from a member of the shadow front bench.
Angela Rayner, a former shadow education secretary, said she was troubled that some institutions had threatened 100 per cent wage deductions unless striking staff rescheduled lectures missed during the disputes.
The University and College Union (UCU) branch at Queen Mary University of London shared a letter from the Ashton-under-Lyne MP on Twitter.
In it, Ms Rayner said she was deeply concerned by the treatment of staff at both Queen Mary and the University of Wolverhampton, another institution affected by industrial action.
