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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Labour rejects union strike calls | Labour rejects union strike calls |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The Labour Party has rejected trade union demands for less restrictive strike laws at its National Policy Forum at Warwick University. | |
| Calls for measures to make strike action easier were defeated on the final day of the forum. | Calls for measures to make strike action easier were defeated on the final day of the forum. |
| It was feared the unions would cause a further headache for Gordon Brown, who is facing speculation over his future after a recent poll defeat in Glasgow. | It was feared the unions would cause a further headache for Gordon Brown, who is facing speculation over his future after a recent poll defeat in Glasgow. |
| The forum also voted in favour of reducing the voting age from 18 to 16. | The forum also voted in favour of reducing the voting age from 18 to 16. |
| In addition, the National Policy Forum (NPF) voted for a fully elected House of Lords and to extend the full national minimum wage to people aged 21, rather than 22 as at present. | In addition, the National Policy Forum (NPF) voted for a fully elected House of Lords and to extend the full national minimum wage to people aged 21, rather than 22 as at present. |
| Ministers, unions and activists have been locked in negotiations on the contents of the party's next general election manifesto since Friday. | Ministers, unions and activists have been locked in negotiations on the contents of the party's next general election manifesto since Friday. |
| The party and unions issued a joint statement welcoming the agreement of a "serious set of policies for the future of Britain". | The party and unions issued a joint statement welcoming the agreement of a "serious set of policies for the future of Britain". |
| Dave Prentis, general secretary of public services union Unison, said: "We have moved forward on a package that covers a wide range of areas that the British electorate wants to see addressed... | Dave Prentis, general secretary of public services union Unison, said: "We have moved forward on a package that covers a wide range of areas that the British electorate wants to see addressed... |
| "Importantly for us, it affirms the central role of the public sector in delivering public services." | "Importantly for us, it affirms the central role of the public sector in delivering public services." |
| Manifesto commitments | Manifesto commitments |
| With unions providing 90% of party funds, the Tories had accused Prime Minister Gordon Brown of being their "helpless prisoner". | With unions providing 90% of party funds, the Tories had accused Prime Minister Gordon Brown of being their "helpless prisoner". |
| But Mr Brown had insisted he would not allow a "return to the 1970s" on issues such as secondary picketing, which is illegal and involves people picketing locations not directly connected to the issue of protest. | But Mr Brown had insisted he would not allow a "return to the 1970s" on issues such as secondary picketing, which is illegal and involves people picketing locations not directly connected to the issue of protest. |
| The decision to reject the strike demands will be a relief for the prime minister whose future has again been called into question after Labour lost one of its safest seats to the SNP at Glasgow East. | The decision to reject the strike demands will be a relief for the prime minister whose future has again been called into question after Labour lost one of its safest seats to the SNP at Glasgow East. |
| GMB union leader Paul Kenny told the BBC that while Mr Brown's leadership had not been discussed at the forum, there was a "herd of elephants in the room". | GMB union leader Paul Kenny told the BBC that while Mr Brown's leadership had not been discussed at the forum, there was a "herd of elephants in the room". |
| The 184-member NPF agreed that the right to unpaid time off to deal with urgent parental issues should be extended to all those with children up to the age of 16. | The 184-member NPF agreed that the right to unpaid time off to deal with urgent parental issues should be extended to all those with children up to the age of 16. |
| Controversial government policies such as building a new generation of nuclear power stations, a welfare crackdown and ID cards were also all approved, a Labour spokesman said. | Controversial government policies such as building a new generation of nuclear power stations, a welfare crackdown and ID cards were also all approved, a Labour spokesman said. |
| "The agreement shows Labour backing Gordon Brown in policy," Mr Kenny said. | "The agreement shows Labour backing Gordon Brown in policy," Mr Kenny said. |
| However, there was no commitment to free school meals for all primary school pupils, although it was agreed councils would be encouraged to copy a pilot project in Hull. | However, there was no commitment to free school meals for all primary school pupils, although it was agreed councils would be encouraged to copy a pilot project in Hull. |