Union boss Mark Serwotka brands Suella Braverman a 'liar', after border left unguarded for nine days

1 February 2023, 22:00

PCS union boss Mark Serwotka labels Suella Braverman a 'liar'

By Grace Parsons

Public and Commercial Services Union's Mark Serwotka puts the govt on blast after they "operated a policy of open borders" for 9 days over Xmas.

In light of Wednesday's mass strikes across the UK, Public and Commercial Services Union's General Secretary Mark Serwotka joined LBC's Tom Swarbrick in a live phone-in.

The pair touched on the Border Force strikes that occurred over a 9 day period during Christmas last year.

The army were brought in by the government to cover striking staff at passport control. The PUC boss reflected on this move: "Our armed forces should not be used to break democratic strikes, they've got more important things to do."

READ MORE: Walkout Wednesday live: Parents forced to take days off or WFH as teachers and train drivers strike

The union's General Secretary questioned: "When does it end? Are we now going to see army personnel teach our kids, drive our trains, drive ambulances, put out fires? It's a sticking plaster that doesn't solve the long term problem."

Mr Serwotka went on to say: "The army were there, we were told there were no queues. But we've now seen the leaked figures from the Home Office to tell us that at Heathrow only 5% of people were stopped."

The PCS boss stated: "For a government that talks about security, security, security, essentially for 9 days over Christmas they operated a policy of open borders and they know it.

"Therefore, if the price they were prepared to pay was no queues by people being waived through - the army didn't even have the legal powers to stop people in the way that a border force official has than that is the decision they took."

"The stats speak for themselves... it means that when the Home Secretary told us that security was her top priority - she was lying because she knows that they did not provide the level of service, because they weren't trained to do so," the General Secretary concluded.

READ MORE: From clashing with a caller who missed a funeral to possibility of a police strike, Henry Riley analyses TUC boss on LBC

More Tom Swarbrick

See more More Tom Swarbrick

Exclusive
British troops could be stationed in Ukraine, a Trump ally has said.

Trump's counter-terrorism chief says British troops could be stationed in Ukraine if ceasefire is agreed

Exclusive
Richard Tice thinks Reform "has the momentum" to challenge at the next election.

Reform deputy leader Richard Tice says 'hundreds of thousands' could lose jobs due to Labour's 'appalling' Budget

Exclusive
The terror watchdog was speaking to LBC's Tom Swarbrick

Terror watchdog warns hostile nations could use 'ordinary Brits' to 'carry out acts of sabotage'

Exclusive
Robert Jenrick Launches His Bid To Be The Next Conservative Party Leader

Social housing should be focused on ‘people who have been here for a long time’, Robert Jenrick tells LBC

Tom Swarbrick speak to Jonathan Dekel-Chen

Israeli hostage's father tells LBC Benjamin Netanyahu must 'negotiate with Satan' to bring hostages home

Exclusive
One child strip searched every 14 hours report reveals, as minister admits police searches 'taking place in chicken shops'

One child strip searched every 14 hours as commissioner says police searches 'taking place in chicken shops'

Nigel Farage waded into the row between Keir Starmer and Elon musk

'I pray he's wrong': Nigel Farage tells LBC following Elon Musk's claim 'civil war is inevitable' in Britain

Exclusive
Nigel Farage has refused to apologise after making the comments after the stabbing attack in Southport

Nigel Farage refuses to apologise over claims made about Southport attacker being known to police

Exclusive
Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson has told LBC that courts could sit through the night to bring “speedy justice” to those taking part in violent demonstration

Courts could sit through night to bring 'speedy justice' to violent protesters, policing minister tells LBC

Exclusive
A sister has described the moment she punched a crocodile to save her sister.

'I wasn't going to leave her behind': Twin recalls punching crocodile to save sister

Exclusive
Susan Hall has dismissed Ed Miliband's claim that she would be an 'embarrassment' to Britain as the next London mayor.

Susan Hall dismisses as 'nonsense’ after Ed Miliband said she would be an ‘embarrassment’ as London Mayor

Exclusive
UK should prepare for 'something close to war', Nato's deputy tells LBC, amid warning members have 'neglected defence'

UK should prepare for 'something close to war', Nato's Deputy General tells LBC, as he warns Russia 'cannot be trusted'

Emma Webber (left) speaking to LBC

Mother of Nottingham attack victim Barnaby Webber blasts police ‘mistruths’ after force is put in special measures

Lord Harrington said there should be a cap on the number of asylum seekers the UK takes.

Former refugees minister Lord Harrington calls for a cap on the number of asylum seekers the UK takes

Mel Stride has backed the PM

Rishi Sunak has 'absolutely not' betrayed nation over Rwanda plan, insists minister after Braverman's attack on PM

Tom and caller

'Our family is there': Mother shares heartbreaking experience of being a British Jew during Israel-Hamas conflict