An unelected monarch sits atop a golden throne, bedecked in jewels, cloaks and all the trimmings, reading out a prepared statement on his government’s plans for action - it’s all a rather unedifying spectacle, isn’t it? Just think for a moment about the sheer cost of his clobber. Surely it won’t have escaped the attention of the public of the stonking optics, if not downright hypocrisy, for a man to wear, quite literally, priceless jewels whilst announcing his government’s intention to set up an anti-poverty task force. The noble mission, which we support, to end child poverty could be boosted to the tune of billions if only the royal family hawked off one of their many crowns.
I accept that it’s low-hanging fruit to go after the aristocracy. Not that they’ll care, mind you. Despite the pomp, it was the message not the messenger that we were interested in.
After 14 years of Tory-led austerity which has brought public services and public service workers to their knees, we’ve been clear that a new UK Government needs to deliver for workers – that old phrase “it’s the economy, stupid” needs to take central stage . Contrary to Tory popular opinion, trade unionists don’t hold the economy to ransom or spend our time working to stall economic growth. Far from it.
When the economy grows, with workers’ rights and decent pay and conditions at the core of it, we all win. It's correct therefore that the Labour Government should set their strategic priorities on growing the economy and building a nation that creates opportunity and wealth for all. That last part is important.
“For all”. For too long, especially under the last government, wealth was hoarded at the top whilst public spending and austerity was implemented for those nearer the bottom. We must not have a return to that.
Austerity is dead. A failed, punitive and punishing economic model that must languish in the grave of the Conservative Government. We also need to see buried the entire roll of dishonour of anti-trade union legislation that has been enacted over these past 14 years.
It’s why Labour’s commitment to deliver a New Deal for Working People has been resoundingly welcomed across the trade union movement. This signals a fresh start for industrial relations with our movement and the UK Government. Until now, it was openly hostile and not at all helpful.
The hostility didn’t come from us. When a government is so ideologically opposed to your very existence to fight for better terms and conditions for members, then it’s hardly conducive to amenable negotiations around the table. That can all change now.
If economic growth is to be the central component of this Labour Government’s ideology, it must be done with working people’s interests at its heart. The New Deal for Working People gives us a fighting chance. It proposed to ban zero-hours contracts, end fire and rehire and, more importantly, boost wages to deliver a real-living wage.
More money directly into the pockets of workers, especially for those on the lower end of the pay scale, is a tried and tested method of boosting our economy. Sir Keir Starmer (Image: PA) More than that, the New Deal offers workers – especially those within a trade union – the respect they’re due as part of our labour market. We can be constructive allies in building an economy that delivers for workers and governments alike.
It’s an approach that’s served us, for the most part, prudently in Scotland with a Scottish Government far more engaged and amenable to compromise and negotiation than the previous Tory UK Government. It's to that point I now turn. Relations between our governments must be cooperative.
As the recommendations from the UK COVID-19 Inquiry show us, our citizenry is far better served when governments work together on areas of mutual interest. The proposed Council of the Nations and Regions is undoubtedly a more progressive step from the UK Government to rebuild trust and relations between our countries. If asked, we will play our full part in ensuring the voices of Scotland’s workers are heard within the Council.
The new UK Government has it’s work cut out, not just on funding and resetting relationships across the UK – but getting to grips with major challenges we face – whether it’s the climate crisis or our crumbling infrastructure there is much to do. Bringing the railways back into public ownership has been a long-standing demand of trade unions. We’ve often argued that allowing the profiteers to rinse customers and stifle investment has led to a dismal and at times potentially dangerous rail service.
We need publicly owned, cheaper, affordable transport - and importantly energy - if we are to see real change. Labour’s plans for GB Energy to be situated in Scotland is welcome, but it’s what GB Energy does with the powers and scope it’s anointed with that matters too. We were concerned that it might simply be created as an inward investment tool, but the King’s speech suggests that the plan still remains to develop a strategy for direct public ownership to deliver the infrastructure and supply chain jobs we so desperately need.
Though the planned investment is at the low end of what is required, it is nonetheless a significant commitment. Humanity also needs an immediate ceasefire to the genocide in Gaza. This has been a blind spot for Starmer and, with some of his colleagues losing their seats to openly supportive, pro-Palestinian candidates in the election, he’s clearly still feeling the impact of his initial lacklustre response to Israel’s indiscriminate killing of those in the region following the inexcusable attacks we witnessed on October 7th.
The only way to deliver on the two states solution supported in the King’s Speech is to apply pressure for an end to the Israeli offensive and the immediate recognition of the state of Palestine. There is work to be done. It will take unions, politicians and governments working together and all pulling in the same direction to achieve it.
We’ll play our part and we won’t need a crown or fancy ornaments to deliver on our promises to working people..
