I’m proud to support the HeartUnions week campaign. Trade unions have been crucial in winning the working rights from which we now all benefit. Today, they are still at the forefront of fighting for workers, campaigning against zero-hours contracts and insecure employment, and for proper working conditions and pay for all workers, including those in the gig economy.

The Labour Party and the trade union movement have always had a close relationship, and I have been a member of the Transport and General Workers’ Union, and now Unite the union (into which it merged) since my 20s, having previously been in the NUS. I’m pictured here with other South West Labour MPs: Darren Jones MP, Ben Bradshaw ,Luke Pollard, and David Drew MP.