Iron Chancellor refuses to bend to union pressure
Chancellor Gordon Brown addressed the TUC Congress this afternoon, defending the tough economic decisions of the last six years and insisting that the government is determined to press ahead with public sector reforms.
He claimed that the government’s ‘long term’ approach to the economy was necessary to sustain the stability that makes social and industrial justice possible.
The minister thanked the TUC for its support and restraint over the past six years, but warned that the Government will not cave in to short-term demands for measures that could jeopardise the UK’s hard-won economic stability.
He pointed out that the UK now has the lowest unemployment since 1976, and claimed, ‘It’s because we had the strength to take the long-term decisions and not be distracted by the short-term.’
Mr Brown told the TUC that the increased numbers of nurses, teachers and doctors are a result of tough decisions by the Labour government, such as the 1p increase of National Insurance contributions.
‘We will not rest or slow our efforts until we have ensured a Great Britain of greater opportunities and greater security not just for some but for all’, Mr Brown announced, pledging to promote employment rights, the protection of pensions, equal pay between men and women and prevention of the emergence of a two-tier workforce.
However, a sterner Mr Brown spoke on the public service reform programme, insisting that the Government was committed to discussing the way forward with the unions but stressing that unions and business must have the courage to take the necessary hard decisions and work together for the good of the country.
Turning to the Euro, Mr Brown stated his commitment to the common currency, saying, ‘We will demonstrate the benefits of the euro if we can achieve sustainable and durable convergence with the euro area; and we will take on anti-European prejudice and myths to show how we can unite Britain around a pro-European consensus’.
Mr Brown summed up by stressing that the government would not be swayed on its policies, declaring, ‘as long as I am chancellor there will be no return to the mistakes that past Labour and Conservative governments made of attempting quick fixes, gambling with our stability and failing to modernise our public services.’
Many unions are heavily opposed to government policies such as Private Finance Initiatives and Public Private Partnerships, university top-up fees and foundation hospitals and have been highly critical of the government during this year’s conference.
