People are not your priority, Mr Cameron

Commenting on today’s Queen’s Speech, Unite general secretary, Len McCluskey said,

“Given the profound challenges facing this nation, it is staggering that a priority for this government is not to create decent jobs and offer a helping hand to insecure workers but to attack trade unions. Seven million UK workers and their families turn to their unions for help. Our members are the people who clean our streets, care for our kids, work in our shops – they are not the cause of this country’s broken economy and deserve far better than the hostility directed at them by this government.

“Unite has said repeatedly that the way to increase turnouts in strike ballots is not to make it harder for people to exercise fundamental rights, but to modernise voting. This can be easily achieved through consensus and discussion, and without the division and fear that the government’s approach prefers.

“We urge this government to think again. People will not be fooled by claims to be the party of working people if freedoms and democracy are swept away in a tide of repressive laws and showy PR.

“The first duty of a prime minster must surely be do not impoverish the people, but undermining basic freedoms, bringing further ruin to our broken housing market and paving the way for further attacks on the poor will see him embarrassed by his `One Nation’ claims.

“Desperate families will welcome any help with the punishing cost of child care provision. However, you can be certain that George Osborne will present the bill for Tory promises to the better off, to those who can least afford it.

“Twelve billion pounds more in cuts is hurtling towards the most needy in society in the budget on July 8, entrenching the UK’s shameful position as the most unequal nation in Europe. Further, the millions of people hoping desperately for a home will be severely let down by the absurd grab on housing association homes.

EU referendum

“The EU referendum offers the people the chance of a genuine debate on the sort of country we wish to be – are we one where the interests of the people or of the boardroom come first? Some of the most sensible rights for working people flow from our membership of the EU, much needed given the determination of this government to reduce further even the minor protections UK workers currently depend upon.

“The time has, however, come to consider how the European relationship can be made to work better for working people. Jobs and basic securities to be uppermost in the discussions to come which is why we will oppose any efforts by this government to use this debate to cause further detriment to UK workers.”