NASUWT:

NASUWT: ‘Liberal Democrat leaders are selling out the British people’

NASUWT: ‘Liberal Democrat leaders are selling out the British people’

The NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union, will be attending the Liberal Democrat Conference, which begins this weekend, to take the message to the conference delegates that they must face up to the fact that their party is selling out the British people for five seats around the Cabinet table.

From its stand at the conference, the NASUWT will be making the case for an alternative approach on education policy and for tackling the economic crisis caused by the bankers and financial institutions.

Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, will be addressing a TUC rally that will be taking place outside the Conference venue on Sunday 19 September 2010.

Chris Keates, said:

“Many of the policies being pursued by the Coalition Government, particularly in education, are pure Tory policies as detailed in their manifesto. “The Tories went to the country in the General Election with a manifesto that failed to secure a working majority from the electorate and that was also opposed by the Liberal Democrats.

“It is therefore unacceptable that policies that did not receive a mandate from the public should now be being implemented solely on the basis of support from a handful of Liberal Democrat MPs. “The Leaders of the Liberal Democrat Party have sold out the British people for five seats at the Cabinet table.

“The NASUWT believes that a huge gulf has emerged between rank and file Liberal Democrat members and the Party’s leadership. We believe that this will be evident at the Conference. “The NASUWT will be using the Conference to gauge the feelings of delegates and to promote the fact that despite the Government rhetoric there is an alternative to the Coalition’s programme of cuts.

ENDS

Notes to editors

The TUC rally will take place from 12noon at the side of Salt House Dock by the A5036 and to the north of the junction with Gower Street in Liverpool.

The NASUWT is at stand B9 & B10 in the ACC Liverpool.

The NASUWT General Secretary will be available for interviews throughout the Conference. Contact should be made with Chris Keates on 07966 195010 or via the press office on 07966 198894.

The NASUWT will be organising or contributing to the following fringes which are open to the media:

Sunday 19 September
Title: How can the Coalition build on social partnerships?
Unions 21 Fringe (sponsored by NASUWT)
Hilton Hotel Meeting Room One13:00 – 14:00

Monday 20 September
Title: Does Local Government have a role in public services?
Joint NASUWT/UNISON Fringe
ACC Hall 4b 18:15 – 19:30

Tuesday 21 September
Title: England’s schools: A free for all?
Joint Education Trade Union (ATL/NASUWT/NUT) Fringe
ACC Hall 3b 13:00 – 14:00
Title: Is there room in the Coalition for unions?
Joint Unions21/ IPA Fringe
ACC, Room 4a 18:15-19:30

Stuart Gannon
NASUWT Press Office

Tel: 020 7420 9681
Mobile (and out of hours contact): 07966 198894
Address: 5 King Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 8SD