The minority Tory government failed to offer the hope the nation
needs in its Queen’s Speech, the leader of Britain’s largest union,
Unite said today (Wednesday 21 June). Responding to the
Queen’s Speech Unite general secretary Len McCluskey
said: “The nation needed a Queen’s Speech that offered hope
and the promise of an economy with decent secure jobs and wages
that people can live on. "It was an opportunity for Theresa
May and her discredited government...Request free trial
The minority Tory government failed to offer the hope the nation
needs in its Queen’s Speech, the leader of Britain’s largest union,
Unite said today (Wednesday 21 June).
Responding to the Queen’s Speech Unite general secretary Len
McCluskey said: “The nation needed a Queen’s Speech that
offered hope and the promise of an economy with decent secure jobs
and wages that people can live on.
"It was an opportunity for and her discredited government to
heed the voice of millions who voted for a change of direction by
ditching failing austerity for a brighter future.
“Instead we got a Queen’s Speech, which devoid of the contents of
the Tories' toxic manifesto, is more an attempted lifeline for
than offering the meaningful life
changes the people of this country need.
“There was silence on the public sector pay cap, which has left
those who care for our sick, clean our streets and help keep us
safe struggling to make ends meet.
“No word either on the need to significantly boost the minimum wage
and put money in people’s wallets to stop the longest period
of falling real terms pay since the Napoleonic wars.
“There will be no early, much-needed respite for hard pressed
renters with action on landlords and agents to ban extortionate
letting fees kicked into the long grass in the form of a draft
bill.
“We now face a two year battle to prevent the Tory party from using
the Brexit process to take apart the employment and safety
protections we all value, but are regarded as obstructive ‘red
tape' by government ministers and Tory backbenchers.
“The Tories had a chance today to show that they understand the
issues of this country - growing poverty, insecurity, the need for
decent work, public safety and a chance for our young people.
“They failed. The sooner they are gone, the better.”
