A successful statutory ballot provides the BMA with a legal mandate for strike action. Recent improvements to the Employment Rights Act mean this mandate will be for one year.

There are further changes planned to the Employment Rights Act. But currently, statutory ballots must be held by post and to be successful, at least 50% of balloted members must take part, and the majority of those who vote must vote ‘yes’. 

A formal ballot needs to be compliant with trade union law, so we need to make sure we dot every i and cross every t.