Yahoo News John Prescott swears on GMB and tries to shame Piers
Labour MP John Prescott cause quite a stir on Good Morning Britain today (September 25).
The politician was grilled on the show by Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid about whether he would support illegal industrial action.
When he refused to give the presenters a direct yes or no answer, Lord Prescott lost his rag and swore.
Commenting on current laws which require at least 50% of a workforce to vote in favour of a strike before taking action, the MP explained that sometimes, those arrangements aren't practical.
He said: "Listen, I used to be a seaman. How do you get a ballot when seamen are spread all over the world? Tell me! How can seamen vote for a strike when they' all over the bloody world?
"These are difficult negotiations, and they are not helped by people like yourselves!"
Lord Prescott then swore a second time when interrogated over comments made by Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite the Union.
McCluskey made headlines earlier this month for supporting the possibility of strike action without a 50% ballot turnout, in defiance of the law.
When asked if McCluskey was wrong to make such comments, Lord Prescott hit back: "No, he's a union leader! At the end of the day, politicians may have to decide whether to change this law.
"Will they bring back tribunals? Because you're already putting a blooming penalty on them, as workers can't afford tribunals.
"Perhaps if we get a balance on how to handle disputes, that's what we should do instead of asking bloody questions like, 'Do you believe in illegal strikes?' Get out in the real world, Piers!"
At that point, Piers accused the MP of not giving a straight answer to his question.
