The leader of one of the UK's biggest unions has denied allegations of a rift between unions and the government - but says Tony Blair has to do more for workers' rights.

Derek Simpson, the Secretary General elect of Amicus who is due to take over from Sir Ken Jackson on January 1, played down speculation that the traditional link between the Labour Party and the unions was breaking down.

"I am a member of the Labour Party", he told Tim Sebastian on BBC HARDtalk.

"I have campaigned for the Labour Party and will continue to do so."

Click here to watch the full interview

Ken Jackson, whom Mr Simpson replaces, was an ally of the prime minister and in favour of the euro.

By contrast, Mr Simpson is a self-declared euro-agnostic and is regarded by some as representing a general shift to the left among the unions.

There has also been speculation of some unions withdrawing their financial support from the Labour Party.

But Mr Simpson said he had reassured Prime Minister Tony Blair there would be "no question of an argument about funding".

"I've certainly no desire to cause that kind of a detriment to a Labour Government."

And although he admitted some activists were getting irritable at suggestions that Mr Blair was going to get tough with unions, he said this was not a reason to strike.

It would be "ludicrous" for him to recommend strike action to his members, he said.

Work to do

Despite his proclaimed loyalty, Mr Simpson said the government still had "some distance to go" before satisfying union members' demands.

I will do what my members want

Derek Simpson

He will attend the TUC conference in Blackpool from 9 to 12 September, where he expects the government to "take cognescence" of the issues at stake.

He also promised: "I will do what my members want."

He cited "the worst employment laws in Europe" as a particular concern.

Despite the UK's current high levels of employment, Mr Simpson insisted British workers were at a disadvantage.

Derek Simpson heads the UK's second largest union

"Companies can take business out of the country and relocate elsewhere in the world at the cost of British workers."

The problem hinged, he said, on flexible British labour markets which meant it was easier for businesses not only to set up, but also to dispense with workers.

People's biggest concern is job security, he claimed, and the UK lacked Europe's superior consultation rights and redundancy packages.

Unemployment in the UK was also growing, he insisted, even if not to European levels.

The interview can be watched in full on Wednesday 21 August on BBC News 24 at the following times:

BBC News 24 (times shown in BST) 0430, repeated 2230