Unions, campaign groups and think tanks have reacted positively Andy Burnham’s first conference speech as party leader, with praise for its hopeful message and promise of radical change.
In his address to delegates in Liverpool, the Prime Minister offered the nation “honesty, ideas and a clear direction for the country”, breaking with the “flawed thinking” of the last 40 years.
Among his pledges were the establishment of a new National Care Service, free at the point of use, greater public control over energy, housing and water, a National Commission on Electoral Reform, strengthening ties with the European Union and reforming the education and welfare system.
Mainstream, a soft-left group backed by Burnham, said that the speech delivered on their calls for radical change.
The group’s interim council said: “Andy Burnham – our Prime Minister, the leader of the Labour Party, and a signatory to Mainstream’s founding statement – just announced some of the most radical reforms this country has seen for the best part of a century.
“Electoral reform. Public control. A new settlement for social care. And much, much more.
“Radical realism in action, Mainstream Labour values in practice. We’re not just changing the Labour Party, we are changing the country.”
‘Government must roll up sleeves and get on with delivering’
The GMB union said that the speech addressed many concerns that their members face, but that the real challenge would be on delivering those commitments.
GMB national secretary Rachel Harrison said: “From an actual plan for the water industry, to the National Care Service, support for young people and reduced energy bills for both customers and industry – it was packed with announcements we can all get behind.
“The government must now roll up its sleeves and get on with delivering.
‘Hope born out of honesty’
USDAW general secretary and chair of Labour Unions Joanne Thomas welcomed Burnham’s keynote address, including the announcement of a National Care Service.
She said: “We welcome Andy’s first speech as Prime Minister to Labour conference, he showed a different style, a determination to change politics and hope born out of honesty. It was moving to hear Andy speak about his family and how his background has inspired him. He told us he would put Britain back on the right path and we look forward to the publication of ‘Our Plan for Britain’ later this year. To deliver good growth in every postcode and relief from the cost of living crisis for those struggling to make ends meet.
“The announcement of a National Care Service is long overdue, with too many suffering the indignity of a broken care system for too long. Andy’s emotional explanation of what drives him to tackle this issue was clear for everyone to see and we very much want him to succeed. The funding of this is crucial and he is right to ensure that it will not come from borrowing, but we will want to see the detail of the state pension triple reform and ensure that income pensioners are protected.
“Andy also rightly highlighted the issues young people face, which is an ever-growing issue. Usdaw is keen to see the Government deliver good jobs that are secure and well paid. That means the adult rate at 18, guaranteed hours contracts for all and permanent jobs with prospects. Solving youth unemployment is about the quality of jobs, not just quantity.
“Other commitments to make real changes to help with the cost of living are also welcome. Sorting the housing crisis, making energy more affordable, bringing water back under public control and public transport more affordable are all key measures that will make a real difference to our members and put the country on a new course.”
Progressive think tank Compass said they felt “vindicated” in their calls for electoral reform and public control of water.
Director of Compass Neal Lawson said: “Here, the public gets what it has been crying out for. A Prime Minister no longer tinkering around the edges but committing to actual political, economic and social reform.”
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‘Social care should be free at the point of need’
The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) said that Burnham’s commitments on delivering a National Care Service would finally tackle one of the nation’s greatest injustices.
Executive director Harry Quilter-Pinner said: “IPPR has long advocated that social care should be free at the point of need, just like the principle behind the NHS. If you have cancer in this country your care will be free. If you have dementia you have to pay for it. This is both illogical and unfair.
“But it would be equally unfair to ask younger generations to pay for this. They have been squeezed by frozen tax thresholds, student loan repayments and soaring housing costs, while the triple lock has protected and prioritised pensioner incomes.
“If reforming the triple lock can help fund a National Care Service, that deserves serious consideration. Ageing is going to become by far the biggest source of pressure on the public finances in the future. We need to confront that reality fairly, rather than continuing to load more of the cost onto younger and working-age generations.”
‘Burnham is showing that he gets it’
Transport and travel union TSSA praised Burnham’s speech for pointing the way to a “country and an economy which is run in the name of people and not profit”.
General secretary Maryam Eslamdoust said: “The Prime Minister is showing that he gets it, that we need a country and an economy which is run in the name of people and not profit. We cannot continue down the path we have been on.
“Working people and families have been paying for the excesses of a failed economic model since the banks crashed in 2008. They deserve a break, and an economy reset to serve their interests.
“Capping bus fares at £2 and taking VAT off electricity bills are steps in the right direction. So is the commitment to put more of life’s essentials under public control. We want to see what that means in practice for energy and water, alongside the government’s plans to give councils a stronger role in building secure, affordable homes.
“Since 2010 the foundations of our economy and public services have been eroded. Growth will only last if those foundations are rebuilt – with reliable transport, affordable homes and utilities, strong public services and decent work.
“That means jobs, jobs, jobs — good, secure, unionised jobs with proper pay and prospects. Young people and graduates should not be pushed into low-pay, insecure work or left to make do in the gig economy.
“Our union looks forward to working with Andy Burnham to bring our railways fully into public hands and deliver for our members as Great British Railways takes shape. That means protecting jobs, pensions, pay, travel facilities, terms and conditions, and giving workers a real say in the transition. For GBR to succeed we must deliver a just transition to a transport system and a country that works for everyone.”
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