‘True Labour’

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey received a standing ovation after calling on the Labour Party at conference today (September 26) to stand in opposition to austerity but to also “stand for something too,” as he moved a composite in favour of building and promoting a robust industrial strategy.

He hailed Labour for “moving the political dial” and “changing the terms of debate” as evidenced by the present Tory government under Theresa May taking up Labour’s language of industrial strategy.

“A year ago, with the Tories just re-elected, industrial strategy was on the outer fringes of political thinking,” he said. “Now it’s on the nameplate of the Business Department in Whitehall.

“That,” he said, “is a vital change. An overdue change.

“And it’s a change for which this party and our leader must take much of the credit,” he added.

Outlining the heart of Labour’s industrial strategy as set out in the composite, McCluskey argued for a strategy that is backed by a national investment bank as well as regional development strategies. He called for a plan that is supported through public procurement and what he called “in-sourcing”.

A sound industrial strategy, he noted, is one that creates new jobs and apprenticeships, establishes tax policies that support industrial development and one that takes decisive action to “save our foundation industries such as steel and that guarantees the future of British manufacturing.”

Such a strategy would be “Labour’s forward-looking offer”, one that McCluskey said would “fairly redistribute the gains to be made from automation, technological advances and the developing gig economy” as well as one that “offers young people hope” and “reverses the explosion of insecure, zero-hours jobs and poverty wages.”

He argued in favour for an economy “built for the millions, not the millionaires” – one that, he said, “takes some of the wad of bank notes of the Mike Ashleys of this world and redistributes it to people slaving to keep the economy moving”.

Emphasising the importance of party unity, he called on Labour to “back its leadership as we all fight – together – for this new economy.

Vision of socialist change

“The Tories may steal our language but only Labour can deliver the vision,” he noted. “A vision of socialist change and a rejection of free market capitalism.”

Quoting former prime minister Harold Wilson, who he reminded conference won four general elections for Labour, McCluskey said, “If Labour is not a moral crusade, we are nothing.”

“Now I’ve heard people lecture us lately about the futility of principles without power,” he added. But comrades, we have also seen where power without principles leads to — disillusionment, disappointment and ultimate defeat.

“Of course we must win power,” he argued. “But we must also use power for our people, for working people.

“So I ask all of you not to be debilitated by the media and those in our own ranks who seek to undermine your confidence in the fight that lies ahead.

“I say to the merchants of doom – in the words of Shakespeare’s Henry the fifth: ‘If you have no stomach for this fight – depart the battlefield.’

“Because, sisters and brothers in my 45 years plus in our party I have never known such a battle as lies ahead for a better Britain, for our ideals,” he warned.

“What we need now is brave men and women with the courage and commitment to fight for our cause – the cause of true Labour.”

The composite was overwhelmingly carried, as McCluskey concluded his speech to thunderous applause and a standing ovation.

Watch his full speech below: