SIR KEIR STARMER must employ emergency measures to prevent the rise of the far right, a People’s Assembly Against Cuts rally heard today.
Speaking at the demonstration outside the party conference site in Liverpool, RMT president Alex Gordon said this summer’s racist riots are a “reminder that the incoming Labour government has inherited a divided society reeling from 14 years of Tory austerity.”
Labour’s economic strategy “bears an uncanny resemblance to that of its defeated and demoralised Tory predecessors” and “this is a time for emergency measures not of more of the same,” he said.
“Our movement must launch a high profile and effective public campaign for a more progressive and credible economic strategy.”
National Education Union president Phil Clarke said unions must “fight against Labour austerity just as much as Tory austerity.”
“If we don’t do that then Nigel Farage and Tommy Robinson are waiting to sell their snake oil.”
And Public and Commercial Services union general secretary Fran Heathcote warned that the new government is on course to fail with its plan to means-test winter fuel payments for pensioners.
Taking the £300 benefit “is not a tough choice — that is a brutal decision,” she said, adding: “Let's stop pitting pensioners against public-sector workers or migrants — the rich are getting richer.”
Independent Liverpool councillor and children’s author Alan Gibbons called for a new party of the left.
Appearing in a Keir Starmer mask, Steph Pike of Manchester Stop the War Coalition said: “This Labour government is not a government for the people — it’s a government for the rich and the powerful no different from the Tories.”
On Saturday night, Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack mocked Sir Keir for accepting clothes donations as he blasted his government’s “gross political ineptitude.”
He said he challenged Sir Keir on the summer riots and growth of the Reform UK vote, and said the “failure of this government” to address poverty is “scandalous” and a “complete let down” for people who voted for it hoping there would be change.
Referring to the winter fuel payment cuts, he said: “Alongside the betrayal of working-class families who will suffer as a result of those decisions, there is a gross political ineptitude as well.”
NEC member Jess Barnard said the expenses scandal engulfing Labour showed Sir Keir’s inner circle are “out of their depth,” adding: “I do think this is something we have to keep pulling them up on because our democracy should not be for sale and the Labour Party should be holding itself to a much higher standard.”
