Major union refuses to back Labor government plan

Britain’s second largest union publicly criticized Sir Keir Starmer’s plan for government on Sunday, giving a “thumbs down” to a document that captures all the key policies of the Labor Party.

Unite, which has given Labor millions of pounds in recent years, said in a statement it was “unable to support” the outcome of the party’s National Policy Forum, which produced a long list of policies to consider for the election manifesto.

However, at the meeting, Sir Keir won a battle with his internal critics by rebuffing attempts to force him to promise to remove the Tories. two children benefit cap if he wins office next year.

The Labor leader had provoked backlash within his party, including criticism from his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn and union figures, after announcing earlier this month that the cap would stay.

In the run-up to this weekend’s policy meeting conference in Nottingham, union figures and others were preparing amendments to try to force Sir Keir to promise to lift the cap.

However, the measure was dismissed. The National Policy Forum document makes no mention of removing the policy, according to a well-placed Labor figure. supporting Sir Keir.

Gender recognition laws

Labor also pledged to “modernise, simplify and reform” gender recognition laws in the document, although the details of what that might mean remain unclear.

A statement released by the union after the conference stated: “Unite gives a ‘thumbs down’ to an important labor policy document.”

He said he had “refused to back an important Labor document for the government.”

Unite’s statement continued: “Unite was unable to endorse the document in its entirety as it clearly crossed union red lines. This included workers’ rights in collective bargaining, an area that needs radical change, not just tinkering, as well as worker access to unions and a weakening of the language around zero-hour contracts.

“The process in Nottingham was chaotic with an attempt to push through changes to the policy document without first sharing them with conference participants, including Unite.

“As with any negotiation, you simply don’t sign something without all the details and an understanding of the impact it will have on our members and workers in general.

“As the general election approaches, Keir Starmer has to show that Labor will deliver for workers and we need clear policies on this.”

‘Lost opportunity’

Momentum, the labor-based body that supported Corbyn during his leadership, also criticized the proposals.

A Momentum spokesperson said: “This weekend was a missed opportunity for Labor to put forward real solutions to the Tory’s broken Britain.

“Unions and party members tabled amendments on popular and urgent policies, such as a £15 minimum wage, strengthened workers’ rights and free school meals.”

But a Labor spokesman said: “This is a serious, credible and ambitious policy program that lays the groundwork for an election-winning manifesto and mission-driven campaign. Labor government that will build a better Britain. There are no unfunded expense commitments in the document.”

And the GMB union said Labor has policies that can “make a real difference for workers.”

A union spokesperson said: “This weekend, the GMB’s participation in the Labor Party’s national policy forum has brought significant progress for workers.

“Workers now have a policy agenda that would make a real difference to workers and the industries in which they work.”