A photo tweeted by Communications Workers Union (CWU) North West regional secretary Carl Webb appeared to show the shadow flattening the secretary meeting striking workers in her constituency of Wigan. The social media post read: “Thank you Lisa Nandy for taking the time to visit the @cwugmersey Wigan shopping line this morning to speak to #TheCWU BT & Openreach striking members & show solidarity.” It came after Sir Keir said Labor needed to move from a “party of protest” to a party that can win the next upcoming election to help workers and improve their rights. Politics Hub: Truss wins major backers, but Sunak insists someone has to play A person from Ms Nandy’s team said the Labor leader and his staff knew she would be visiting the queue in advance. “She went to show her support for people campaigning for better pay and conditions at a really difficult time, as you would expect,” they said. “As Keir said in the Mirror article yesterday, we support their right to do that, and what they need now is a Labor government so they don’t feel they are alone when times are tough.” The Labor leader said he supported people’s right to strike but sought to play down a row with unions and the left wing of his party over his decision to sack shadow transport secretary Sam Tarry after giving interviews from a line pickets last week. In an interview with Sky News, Mr Tarry suggested RMT workers deserved pay rises in line with inflation. Sir Keir said he sacked Mr Tarry as shadow transport minister after he booked unlicensed media programs and made policy “on the hoof” in defiance of the party’s “collective responsibility”. “This is not about showing up on a picket line. Frontbenchers take collective responsibility. This includes approving media appearances and speaking in agreed positions on the frontbench,” a Labor spokesman said at the time. However, the move was met with fury from Labour’s left wing and the unions, with Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, earlier saying she was “upset” at Sir Keir’s approach to striking workers. Ms Graham also called it “an insult to the trade union movement”. Transport union TSSA also condemned the sacking, saying it was “shameful” for the party. Mr Tarry took to social media on Monday to share his approval of Ms Nandy attending a rally in Wigan. “Glad to see Lisa Nandy on the picket line,” he said. “Senior Labor politicians must show loud and clear that our party stands with ordinary workers who are fighting back against this anti-Labour government.” Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 2:01 A summer of strikes is proving a worry for the public, but also a headache for Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer. Two other frontbenchers also visited the CWU executives. Shadow Employment Secretary Imran Hussain visited one in Bradford, while Labor whip Navendu Mishra attended a rally in Stockport. The Labor Party has been contacted for comment.