Tory proposals for new anti-union laws are a gift to a Labour opposition that on too many counts has failed to distance itself from the Con-Dem government’s neoliberal programme.

After David Cameron’s proposal to annul strike ballots in “core” public services if less than 40 per cent of eligible workers vote in favour, no-one can seriously contend that “they’re all the same.”

On BBC television yesterday, Ed Miliband responded to the proposals by slamming Tories for “waging war on the public sector.”

Yes, that’s the same Ed Miliband who just last week refused to rule out further cuts to local government and the arts.

“The answer, in my view, when we have some of the toughest laws in the world, is not new legislation, it’s a proper approach to industrial relations,” he told Andrew Marr.

Of course, there’s no room for questioning those same ultra-tough union laws introduced by Thatcher, or asking what sort of a society they create.

With a little innovation, the Labour leader could turn an election coup he frankly doesn’t deserve into a policy party activists could be proud of.

Five years ago, pledging to tackle the law’s prejudice against organised labour would have been a brave policy indeed.

Less so now. For all the right-wing media’s appetite for a crackdown, Mr Cameron has alienated not just low-paid workers in the public sector, but bosses too.

When striking NHS unions are joined by Managers in Partnership, surely even our Etonian leaders must admit the times they are a-changin’.

The National Association of Head Teachers has recently affiliated to the TUC, and countless council leaders spoke out in solidarity with their striking staff last year.

There’s just not the appetite for this cynical move, even among those who should be on Mr Cameron’s side.

Someone had blundered.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash says the plans would “rig strike ballots in favour of the same gang of dodgy bosses that bankroll the Conservatives up to the hilt.”

He’s right — it should come as no surprise that the Tories are doing what they’re paid for.

Labour activists will be relieved their leaders can call a ploy a ploy. But whatever happened to aspiration?