{"id":9982,"date":"2016-09-26T13:11:23","date_gmt":"2016-09-26T12:11:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/unitelive.org\/?p=9982"},"modified":"2016-09-27T13:59:06","modified_gmt":"2016-09-27T12:59:06","slug":"true-labour%ef%bb%bf%ef%bb%bf%ef%bb%bf%ef%bb%bf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/?p=9982","title":{"rendered":"‘True Labour’\u010f\u00bb\u017c\u010f\u00bb\u017c\u010f\u00bb\u017c\u010f\u00bb\u017c"},"content":{"rendered":"
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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 \u00e2\u20ac\u015bstand for something too,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 as he moved a composite in favour of building and promoting a robust industrial strategy.<\/p>\n

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He hailed Labour for \u00e2\u20ac\u015bmoving the political dial\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 and \u00e2\u20ac\u015bchanging the terms of debate\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 as evidenced by the present Tory government under Theresa May taking up Labour\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s language of industrial strategy.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bA year ago, with the Tories just re-elected, industrial strategy was on the outer fringes of political thinking,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he said. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bNow it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s on the nameplate of the Business Department in Whitehall.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThat,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he said, \u00e2\u20ac\u015bis a vital change. An overdue change.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bAnd it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a change for which this party and our leader must take much of the credit,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he added.<\/p>\n

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Outlining the heart of Labour\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s 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 \u00e2\u20ac\u015bin-sourcing\u00e2\u20ac\u0165.<\/p>\n

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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 \u00e2\u20ac\u015bsave our foundation industries such as steel and that guarantees the future of British manufacturing.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

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Such a strategy would be \u00e2\u20ac\u015bLabour\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s forward-looking offer\u00e2\u20ac\u0165, one that McCluskey said would \u00e2\u20ac\u015bfairly redistribute the gains to be made from automation, technological advances and the developing gig economy\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 as well as one that \u00e2\u20ac\u015boffers young people hope\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 and \u00e2\u20ac\u015breverses the explosion of insecure, zero-hours jobs and poverty wages.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

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He argued in favour for an economy \u00e2\u20ac\u015bbuilt for the millions, not the millionaires\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c one that, he said, \u00e2\u20ac\u015btakes 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\u00e2\u20ac\u0165.<\/p>\n

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Emphasising the importance of party unity, he called on Labour to \u00e2\u20ac\u015bback its leadership as we all fight \u00e2\u20ac\u201c together \u00e2\u20ac\u201c for this new economy.<\/p>\n

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Vision of socialist change <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe Tories may steal our language but only Labour can deliver the vision,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he noted. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bA vision of socialist change and a rejection of free market capitalism.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

\"labour-2016-standing-ovation2\"<\/p>\n

Quoting former prime minister Harold Wilson, who he reminded conference won four general elections for Labour, McCluskey said, \u00e2\u20ac\u015bIf Labour is not a moral crusade, we are nothing.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bNow I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve heard people lecture us lately about the futility of principles without power,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he added. But comrades, we have also seen where power without principles leads to \u00e2\u20ac\u201d disillusionment, disappointment and ultimate defeat.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bOf course we must win power,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he argued. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bBut we must also use power for our people, for working people.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bSo 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.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bI say to the merchants of doom \u00e2\u20ac\u201c in the words of Shakespeare\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Henry the fifth: \u00e2\u20ac\u0098If you have no stomach for this fight \u00e2\u20ac\u201c depart the battlefield.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bBecause, 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,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he warned.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bWhat we need now is brave men and women with the courage and commitment to fight for our cause \u00e2\u20ac\u201c the cause of true Labour.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

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The composite was overwhelmingly carried, as McCluskey concluded his speech to thunderous applause and a standing ovation.<\/p>\n

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Watch his full speech below:<\/p>\n

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