A letter from Steve McKenzie – a Unite Community Member
Keir Starmer is speaking at Unite’s policy conference on Thursday. This follows a recent overwhelming vote against disaffiliation from the party. Sharon Graham said, in her speech, “We have to hold their feet to the fire. We need to demand action not rhetoric!”
This should be an opportunity for Unite members to apply pressure, letting Starmer know where we stand on major issues, such as opposition to private healthcare providers in the NHS and opposition to billions being siphoned out of the NHS in interest payments on PFI projects.
Starmer should be left in no doubt about how unacceptable his position is about NHS pay, not to mention the outrageous statement by Rachel Reeves, indicating that a future Labour government may not even adhere to the recommendations of the so-called independent pay review body.
Disgusted
It is an opportunity to let him know how disgusted members are at the attitude he has displayed in relation to the strikes, and the threats against Labour front-benchers who showed solidarity on the picket line. We need to maintain pressure on Labour to repeal ALL the anti-union laws.
We must bring our political and financial muscle to bear in the party to fight for the nationalisation of the energy industry.
All this and so much more – but we will only be able to be effective if there is a disciplined approach.
Under no circumstances should this just be a platform for him to put across his usual bland and duplicitous verbiage. However, delegates leaving conference, and joining the demonstration outside the hall, as some people in pursuit of their own agenda are encouraging delegates to do, is not the best tactic. It plays into the hands of those who want to duck and dive and avoid awkward questions.
Unite still wields huge influence inside the party, and should use this to demand that Labour fight as hard for working people as the Tories do for the bosses!
