This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/sep/10/ed-miliband-tuc-speech-divides-delegates
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Ed Miliband's TUC speech divides union delegates | Ed Miliband's TUC speech divides union delegates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ed Miliband received a polite, if muted, reception from union activists at the TUC conference, although there was anger from some delegates over his decision to push ahead with party funding reforms. | |
| The audience in Bournemouth sat quietly as the Labour leader outlined why he was trying to change the way trade union members were affiliated to the party. There was a warmer response for other sections of his speech, particularly the commitment to tackle zero-hours contracts and support for a living wage, but delegates were divided as they poured out of the hall. | The audience in Bournemouth sat quietly as the Labour leader outlined why he was trying to change the way trade union members were affiliated to the party. There was a warmer response for other sections of his speech, particularly the commitment to tackle zero-hours contracts and support for a living wage, but delegates were divided as they poured out of the hall. |
| Tony Halpin, who has been coming to TUC conferences for more than 50 years, was in no doubt that Miliband had been a "disaster". He said: "He didn't take any questions on how this attack on the trade union movement and the changed relationship with the Labour party is going to help him defeat Cameron and I thought it was a disastrous speech. He was talking about how he would try to persuade people to join the Labour party – well that speech would not recruit anybody." | Tony Halpin, who has been coming to TUC conferences for more than 50 years, was in no doubt that Miliband had been a "disaster". He said: "He didn't take any questions on how this attack on the trade union movement and the changed relationship with the Labour party is going to help him defeat Cameron and I thought it was a disastrous speech. He was talking about how he would try to persuade people to join the Labour party – well that speech would not recruit anybody." |
| Kim Hall, a Unison delegate from Northern Ireland, said she was pleased by what she had heard. "If he stands by everything he said in there then that is good enough for me," said the 47-year-old. "I liked what he said on zero-hours and the living wage. Now – like with all politicians – we will just have to see whether he can deliver on it." | Kim Hall, a Unison delegate from Northern Ireland, said she was pleased by what she had heard. "If he stands by everything he said in there then that is good enough for me," said the 47-year-old. "I liked what he said on zero-hours and the living wage. Now – like with all politicians – we will just have to see whether he can deliver on it." |
| Frances O'Grady, the TUC's general secretary, said she felt Miliband had, justifiably, received a warm reception. "By invoking the spirit of 1945 he showed he understood just how much a determined government can achieve even when the country has come through a difficult time. The focus today may have been on Labour's constitution, but it was what else he had to say that will form much of the battleground of the next election." | Frances O'Grady, the TUC's general secretary, said she felt Miliband had, justifiably, received a warm reception. "By invoking the spirit of 1945 he showed he understood just how much a determined government can achieve even when the country has come through a difficult time. The focus today may have been on Labour's constitution, but it was what else he had to say that will form much of the battleground of the next election." |
| Len McCluskey, the Unite general secretary, who has been at the centre of the row between Labour and the unions, said Miliband had looked "like a real leader" and was "beginning to seal the deal" with workers. Speaking outside the union's stand in the conference centre minutes after Miliband had sat down, he said: "There has been a lot of buildup to the speech and there was pressure on him, but he looked very relaxed and gave a very good speech. Some of the issues he talked about were very encouraging, such as apprenticeships, building homes and regional investment." | Len McCluskey, the Unite general secretary, who has been at the centre of the row between Labour and the unions, said Miliband had looked "like a real leader" and was "beginning to seal the deal" with workers. Speaking outside the union's stand in the conference centre minutes after Miliband had sat down, he said: "There has been a lot of buildup to the speech and there was pressure on him, but he looked very relaxed and gave a very good speech. Some of the issues he talked about were very encouraging, such as apprenticeships, building homes and regional investment." |
| McCluskey said he was looking forward to working with Miliband on the proposals to reform the party's relationship with the unions and building on his commitments to improving workers' rights and abolishing zero-hours contracts. "There was a lot of substance and I was pleased he challenged the government over their attempts to demonise unions. I would have liked to hear more on issues such as workers' rights but he came up with some good answers and we look forward to working with him." | McCluskey said he was looking forward to working with Miliband on the proposals to reform the party's relationship with the unions and building on his commitments to improving workers' rights and abolishing zero-hours contracts. "There was a lot of substance and I was pleased he challenged the government over their attempts to demonise unions. I would have liked to hear more on issues such as workers' rights but he came up with some good answers and we look forward to working with him." |
| Dave Prentis, the Unison general secretary, said Miliband's reforms were a turnoff. "When Ed spoke about the things that matter to people like jobs, zero-hours contracts, poverty, austerity and building a fairer society, they listened. But lectures about the challenge of changing the historic relationship between unions and the Labour party are a turnoff. He talks about having the courage to change, but I was always told if something ain't broke, why fix it?" | Dave Prentis, the Unison general secretary, said Miliband's reforms were a turnoff. "When Ed spoke about the things that matter to people like jobs, zero-hours contracts, poverty, austerity and building a fairer society, they listened. But lectures about the challenge of changing the historic relationship between unions and the Labour party are a turnoff. He talks about having the courage to change, but I was always told if something ain't broke, why fix it?" |
| He added: "It was disappointing to hear him talk about sticking to strict spending limits. That makes no sense. He talked of people struggling but didn't acknowledge that one remedy is a decent pay increase. It was disappointing, too, that he didn't even mention the NHS and what he would do to protect and defend it. Nor did he give any firm commitments on affordable housing. Today it was the Tories who were talking about the NHS, while Labour is seen to be focused on infighting with ordinary working trade unionists. The Tories must be rubbing their hands in glee." | He added: "It was disappointing to hear him talk about sticking to strict spending limits. That makes no sense. He talked of people struggling but didn't acknowledge that one remedy is a decent pay increase. It was disappointing, too, that he didn't even mention the NHS and what he would do to protect and defend it. Nor did he give any firm commitments on affordable housing. Today it was the Tories who were talking about the NHS, while Labour is seen to be focused on infighting with ordinary working trade unionists. The Tories must be rubbing their hands in glee." |
| During a question and answer session at the end of the speech, Janice Godrich, president of the Public and Commercial Services union, asked Miliband: "Your policies seem contradictory and they're confusing people. Can we get a clear answer: are you for or against austerity?" This drew applause from the audience. | During a question and answer session at the end of the speech, Janice Godrich, president of the Public and Commercial Services union, asked Miliband: "Your policies seem contradictory and they're confusing people. Can we get a clear answer: are you for or against austerity?" This drew applause from the audience. |
| Miliband said he was opposed to the coalition's austerity programme but confirmed that Labour would stick to Tory spending limits in order to appear "credible". | Miliband said he was opposed to the coalition's austerity programme but confirmed that Labour would stick to Tory spending limits in order to appear "credible". |
| Afterwards, Godrich said: "Austerity isn't working, our members know that and people up and down the country know it. It is incredibly disappointing that, in front of an audience of delegates representing more than 6 million workers, Ed Miliband failed to offer the alternative people so desperately want and need." | Afterwards, Godrich said: "Austerity isn't working, our members know that and people up and down the country know it. It is incredibly disappointing that, in front of an audience of delegates representing more than 6 million workers, Ed Miliband failed to offer the alternative people so desperately want and need." |
| Fern McCaffrey, chair of the TUC young workers forum, said she respected Miliband's honesty about the difficult economic choices facing the next Labour government, although she was worried about his ability to inspire his supporters. "He got an OK reception, it could have been worse … but I don't think it particularly gave anyone any confidence. He came across as an OK leader but he does not inspire masses of trade union workers and supporters to come out on his behalf." | Fern McCaffrey, chair of the TUC young workers forum, said she respected Miliband's honesty about the difficult economic choices facing the next Labour government, although she was worried about his ability to inspire his supporters. "He got an OK reception, it could have been worse … but I don't think it particularly gave anyone any confidence. He came across as an OK leader but he does not inspire masses of trade union workers and supporters to come out on his behalf." |