Vote on Immingham Strike 0730 tomorrow.

The Times reports that a reply in Parliament by the Prime Minister helped towards an agreement by the Unite union to find a settlement. Pickets seem to believe they have been offered half the available jobs for British workers. Looking at the reply by Gordon Brown from Hansard quoted below, this suggestion seems incredible given the statement comes from probably the most duplicitous and self-deluded man in the country: The Prime Minister: We all agree about the need to introduce reform in financial regulation and we will be announcing further plans to do so very soon. However, I think that my hon. Friend agrees with me that this has to happen at the international level, as well as the national level, and I hope that the Conservatives will recognise that. As for the posted workers directive, an expert review has been set up in the European Union to look at the impact of the Laval, Viking and other judgments, and a group of employers and the work forces are also meeting to review that at the same time. When they reach their conclusions, we will look at what they have to say. As the newspaper report makes clear, this is in itself a departure from the Government's earlier position and further highlights what seems almost complete confusion within their ranks.