REVITALISING house-building in Britain could rejuvenate a Labour-led economy for the many, not the few, trade unionists declared this weekend.

The Conference of the Trades Unions Councils in Manchester, marking the 150th anniversary year of the TUC, called for a major house-building programme to meet the needs of the working class in Britain.

Tony Carter of the Cambridge County Association raised the problems facing people across Britain and condemned the lack of social housing, which has caused massive waiting lists while the private housing sector has doubled since 1999.

Martin Mayer of Sheffield, supporting the motion, emphasised the importance of the house-building industry as a major economic weapon against austerity, which could be “kick-starting and developing the economy as a whole.”

The international focus of the trade union movement was also reflected when Dr Aqel Taqaz, a member of the Palestinian Authority government coalition, spoke to delegates about the need to win support for the rights of the Palestinian people.