The ‘rebel two’ Southampton city councillors Keith Morrell and Don Thomas have issued the following statement to the local media, joining the tributes being made to Bob Crow.

“News of the death of Bob Crow came as a huge shock to us, as it would have done to so many people who knew and respected him.

“As the leader of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) he fought tirelessly for his members and for working people in Britain and across the world.

“It was a privilege to work with Bob, who was tremendously supportive of the stand we took here in Southampton to represent the people who elected us as their representatives on the city council”.

Early on in their stand against the Labour council’s cuts Keith and Don were invited to speak to the RMT executive council and later, in June last year, to the RMT’s annual conference. They conclude: “We drew great strength from the personal example he set of tenacity, principle and belief in the working class, trade unionism and socialism.

“Bob will never be forgotten”.