The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has welcomed proposals for unions to expel members for belonging to a political party.

The new rights come after train drivers union Aslef defeated the UK government in the European Court of Human Rights over the expulsion of a member of the British National Party (BNP).

The government argued that the union could not exclude someone for belonging to a political organisation. The European Court disagreed and ruled that Aslef had the right to expel members whose views were at odds with its stated aims.

Commenting on the plans, TUC general secretary Brendan Barber, said:

“Aslef’s landmark victory before the European Court of Human Rights confirmed that unions should be free to decide who can be admitted into membership and, in particular, reaffirmed their right to exclude BNP activists. The government’s swift action to amend the law is welcome.”