Unite: Joint leader of Unite calls on Labour to change direction
In the wake of the Crewe catastrophe, Derek Simpson, Joint General Secretary of Unite, will warn that, “It is not the differences between Gordon Brown and Tony Blair that are the problem, it is the similarities.”
Speaking at the union’s industrial conferences in Brighton this week, Mr Simpson will call for ‘New Labour’ to be consigned to the history books, as the union opens up a new front to change the policies of the Labour Government to show the electorate that only Labour can deal with inequality, housing shortages, rising fuel costs and the health service.
A windfall tax on the billion pound profits of oil companies would redefine Gordon Brown’s premiership and win back votes for Labour.
Mr Simpson will tell delegates, “For years the labour movement held its breath expecting, hoping, for change after the departure of Tony Blair. While we went blue from the lack of oxygen, the country has gone blue for the lack of social change. Recent elections show, Labour’s core supporters mark their displeasure with Labour by abstention or switching to other parties. Both methods will bring about a Tory government.”
The union has welcomed the Government’s action on agency workers which will make it much harder for employers to treat agency workers as dispensable labour, hired and fired at will. But the union remains hard-pressed to point to government initiatives where working people have come first.
Instead, big business has escaped without sanction from the Government for the grotesque excesses, the bonus culture, massive payouts for directors regardless of success and a lack of accountability in the financial system that caused the credit crunch. A recent study shows that the UK’s top companies are already saving £20 billion a year on tax through allowances and concessions.
Mr Simpson added, “We’ll be using our influence as Labour’s biggest affiliate and its’ biggest financial supporter. Not by hysterical and destabilising threats of removing financial support but rather through persuasion and demonstrating that our policies are popular with traditional Labour voters.
“Even one term of a Tory government could prove impossible for the trade union movement to recover from. Many voters have no memory of the Tory years and don’t know what to expect, when they hear Cameron talk about our broken society and the need to ‘hug a hoodie’ they can be forgiven for being taken in.
“The Tories would end redistribution, they would end family tax credits and the cold weather benefit for pensioners. They would cut back on school and health spending, cut spending on youth services and whilst they have said they will not repeal the minimum wage it’s a safe bet that they will let it wither on the vine so it becomes effectively worthless.”
-ENDS-
For more information contact Ciaran Naidoo on 07768 931 315.
Notes to Editors:
A copy of Derek Simpson’s speech is available on request.
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