Sacked Sam Tarry says he ‘absolutely’ believes Sir Keir Starmer should become prime minister

A former shadow Labor minister sacked after giving picket interviews has said he “absolutely” still thinks Sir Keir Starmer is the best man to be prime minister.

am Tarry was sacked from the front bench on Wednesday hours after he joined strikers on an RMT picket at Euston station.

Joining another column at London’s Paddington station on Saturday, the former shadow transport secretary said it was “really important” that Labor MPs show their solidarity with striking workers.

It came after Aslef members at seven train companies walked out in 24 hours, paralyzing services in many parts of the country.

Mr Tarry told the PA news agency: “I believe Keir Starmer is still the best person to be prime minister and I will campaign every day for a Labor government.”

He added that the Labor Party needed a “fundamental realignment” of its relationship with the trade union movement and had to prove it was on their side.

Sir Keir, who had previously banned leaders from joining the pickets, said Mr Tarry had been sacked for joining media programs without permission and making policy “on the hoof”.

Mr Tarry also appeared alongside former party leader Jeremy Corbyn at a rally for striking BT workers on Friday.

The Labor MP for Ilford South said: “We should never have been in a situation where we had an edict saying you couldn’t join a picket.

“This is the Labor Party, the clue is in the name.

“We are the party founded by the trade unions.

He said the relationship between the trade union movement and the Labor Party was “indivisible” and “part of the same fabric”.

Mr Tarry added: “For me to be here is to show that the Labor Party and the vast majority of Labor Party members and MPs really support the striking workers.”

He said he has spoken to several MPs across the country who support the workers.