Nigel Stanley has written on the TUC blog:

Boris Johnson was elected Mayor of London in an election where the turn out was 45.3 per cent.

But he wants industrial action ballots to be valid only if the turn out is greater than 50 per cent.

As well as the obvious whiff of double standards, it’s a bizarre proposal when you examine the detail.

Imagine a workforce of 1,000 balloting for strike action: 499 vote in favour with none against. On Boris rules, that is not a legal ballot for strike action as the turn out is less than 50%.

They decide to vote again. This time 251 vote for a strike and 250 vote against. Despite support for action dropping by almost half, it’s a valid ballot as the turn out is greater than 50 per cent.

So on the day they introduce tax rates of more than 100% the Tories also show they can’t do the maths of elections. They really are very incompetent.