“A missed opportunity”

Unite has responded to the government’s comprehensive spending review, announced today (11 June).

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Whilst outside and inside the spending review, several of the demands Unite has been calling for have been met – for example Sizewell C, Rolls Royce SMRs, winter fuel, increased defence funding, investment in the steel industry and Heathrow expansion – this spending review lacks the vision to deliver the fundamental change needed for everyday people.

“The UK is the sixth richest economy in the world, and we need to end this cautious cycle of robbing Peter to pay Paul. You can’t have an NHS without workers. Staff are crying out for fair pay increases to offset a decade of real terms pay cuts. Pitting workers against communities is not the answer

“As was done in 1945, this Labour government needs to bite the bullet and admit that change needs vision and money. The self-imposed fiscal rules need to change, and we must look at the implementation of a wealth tax.

“Instead of the presentation of false trade-offs – defence but not international aid, cuts to disability benefits but no tax on the super-rich. Labour needs to set out a clear vision that people can see and feel and then they need to finance it.

“Workers and communities need to see action now, promises of jobs can’t always be promised for tomorrow and never actually be delivered. This must include a comprehensive and tangible jobs agenda that deals with the wave of job losses on the horizon, for example in the oil and gas industry. We need a joined up industrial strategy that sees investment in Grangemouth and much needed procurement decisions on buying British in defence. Growth and profits need to convert to jobs and wages.

“Today was a missed opportunity to lay out the funding to tackle key issues, including the energy costs crippling British industry and the local authority debt which is straight-jacketing services in our communities.

“Spending cuts will be seen as austerity, those are the facts. Labour needs to pick up the pace on change otherwise it will be stuck in the political slow lane while other voices get louder.”