THE national officer of one of the UK's leading trade unions has hit out at Keir Starmer's speech, saying it did not offer reassurance to those worried about the fuel crisis and the end of furlough.
Rob MacGregor of Unite said trade unions need a Labour leader who is "as angry as we are about the harm being done to our workers".
He added: “If you’re a Unite member worried about the cost of living crisis, empty petrol pumps, abhorrent fire and rehire in our workplaces and the end of furlough just hours away, there wasn’t much for you in this speech.
“We needed to hear a Labour leader who is as angry as we are about the harm being done to our workers, and as determined as Unite to stand up against abusive employers.
“We’re clearly not there yet.”
But other trade union leaders welcomed the speech.
Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the TUC, said: “Keir’s speech today shows that Labour has a plan for fixing the cost of living crisis, for delivering decent pay work and pay, and for giving our children a brighter future.”
Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said: “Keir set out a new vision for the party and a new vision for the country. With the focus on education, public services, rights at work and mental health, Labour is offering just what the country needs after 11 years of Tory mismanagement.
“Communities across the UK are struggling on so many levels.
“Keir’s speech shows that Labour in power could bring hope to the many families forgotten by this government.
“This is a serious plan for change.”
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Paddy Lillis, general secretary of Usdaw, said: “Keir Starmer today made clear Labour is the party of working people, explaining that he is of working people and for working people.
“That is demonstrated by his commitments to a well-paid and secure workforce through a new deal for workers and we know that he will deliver.
“This is in stark contrast to the Tories who are pulling the rug from under low-paid families with an unfair cut in Universal Credit and increased National Insurance, as we face a looming cost of living crisis.”
Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “Labour have understood that any Government serious about education needs both a strategy to reduce child poverty and a strategy on boosting schools’ capacity to serve every local child.
Momentum co-chairman Andrew Scattergood said: “Starmer’s speech identified a lot of problems but offered very few solutions.
“We all know that the NHS crisis is bad, but what will our Party do about it?
“We are no clearer on that than we were this morning.”
READ MORE: Viewers react to constant heckling of Starmer during key conference address
Tony Danker, CBI director general, said: “The Labour Party has taken an important step forward by outlining an agenda where businesses can find common ground.
“It’s ambitions to decarbonise the economy and build a better future for everyone through improving education are shared by business.
“Lifelong learning is the bedrock of productivity, growth, and in turn, rising wages.”
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