Trade unions and parties attack Varadkar’s ‘Thatcher-like’ measures

Leo Varadkar’s radical plan to ban workers from striking has provoked a backlash among trade unions and parties and threatened to destabalise new pay deal talks with public sector employees.

The frontrunner to be next taoiseach was accused of launching a Thatcher-like draconian attack on workers and of pandering to a right- wing base.

Opening clashes in the Fine Gael leadership contest also took place as rivals Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney prepare to go head-to-head in heated debates later this week.