STEPHEN GLOVER: Britain is broken. Wherever you look the State is failing. In many ways the mess is worse than in the 1970s - when Labour last ruined the country
Tebbit wasn't an intellectual. He didn't even go to university. But he understood with greater clarity than grander Tories with Oxbridge degrees how militant trade unions were destroying this country. His greatest achievement was to curb their excesses.
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The Independent
12 minutes ago
- The Independent
Unite boss accuses Angela Rayner of ‘totally and utterly abhorrent' behaviour as clash with Labour escalates
The leader of Unite has described Angela Rayner's behaviour during recent bin strikes as 'totally and utterly abhorrent' as tensions ramp up between the government and Labour's biggest union backers. General secretary Sharon Graham hit out at the deputy prime minister after the union voted to suspend her in a row over how the Labour-run council in Birmingham treated striking bin workers. The union, one of Labour's biggest financial backers, claims fire and rehire tactics had 'effectively' been deployed against striking workers, who are taking industrial action in a dispute over pay and job conditions. In a fresh attack on Saturday, Ms Graham told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Angela Rayner refuses to get involved, and she is directly aiding and abetting the fire and rehire of these bin workers, it is totally and utterly abhorrent." The general secretary said Ms Rayner had been "a member of our union for over 10 years". Allies of Ms Rayner have said she resigned from Unite in April. Ms Graham said the politician may well have done 'Houdini act' in recent months by trying to leave the Union, but added: "She was very clearly a member when she asked us to give her £10,000 for the election. And on our system, obviously we go by quarters, so up to the March quarter." She added: "Now, if she has over the last couple of weeks, because she's seen the mood music, because this isn't the first time that we've discussed that we're not happy with what's going on, then she may well have done that." Ms Graham hinted that the union may have to rethink its relationship with Labour, adding that Unite members have to see that the fee to affiliate with Labour is "worth something'. "At this present moment in time, it is hard to justify it, if I'm being honest,' she continued. 'Would that money be better spent on frontline services for my members? But the decision will be a serious decision. It's not a rash decision."
Telegraph
29 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Reeves opens door to weakening OBR's influence
Rachel Reeves has opened the door to weakening the Office for Budget Responsibility's (OBR) scrutiny of tax and spending as she struggles to balance the books. It is understood that Downing Street wants to end the prospect of being forced to raise taxes or cut spending twice a year after a bruising time for Ms Reeves during Labour's first year in power. Options on the table include ordering the OBR to assess whether the Government has met its fiscal target just once a year or bringing forward a mechanism that would give the Chancellor more breathing space to meet her tax and spending goals. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) put the ideas forward at its latest health check of the British economy in May. Ms Reeves admitted last month that officials were 'looking at how the OBR works', adding that maintaining a 'grip on the public finances' should be balanced with being able to 'deliver better fiscal policymaking'. It is understood that Sir Keir Starmer has also privately questioned why the watchdog delivers its verdict twice a year when the Government has committed to just one fiscal event. However, multiple sources said the fiscal rules themselves that state the Government will only borrow to invest and get overall debt down were non-negotiable. 'This is not about more borrowing,' said one, while a Treasury spokesman highlighted that Labour's 'fiscal lock' meant the OBR could not be sidelined if the Government decided to loosen the purse strings. The watchdog is currently required by law to deliver its verdict on the Chancellor's ability to balance the books twice a year, even though Ms Reeves has repeatedly said she will deliver just one autumn Budget. The Chancellor rushed through a series of controversial welfare reforms this spring after a stagnant economy and surge in borrowing costs wiped out the £9.9bn buffer she had against her main rule of balancing the books on day-to-day spending. However, Labour backbenchers subsequently forced the Chancellor into an embarrassing about-turn on cuts to sickness and disability benefits and reforms to winter fuel allowance eligibility that have left a £5bn black hole in the public finances. Government sources said they wanted to avoid a repeat in the future, as rating agency Fitch said there were still 'sizeable' risks to getting debt down, adding that more tax rises were on the way. However, Treasury officials remain extremely nervous about investor reaction to any suggestion that the rules will be loosened and it is understood there is little appetite for major legislative changes. The Chancellor's tears in the House of Commons this month triggered a lurch in borrowing costs not seen since Liz Truss was in power as investors feared her replacement would abandon the party's already loose fiscal rules. Speaking to the Guardian earlier this month, Ms Reeves insisted the OBR would remain independent. She said: 'We are looking at how the OBR works, but I think it is really important to have those independent economic institutions, because if you start undermining those and getting rid of the checks and balances on a government, I do think that is risky.' 'Backed into a corner' She noted she was taking a series of recommendations by the IMF seriously. The Fund called for 'further refinements' to how her borrowing rules are assessed to 'improve predictability and reduce pressure for frequent fiscal policy changes'. However, economists warned that the move could be seen as a desperate manoeuvre by investors. Simon French at Panmure Liberum said: 'Changes to the fiscal framework as suggested by the IMF are sensible. But as a government you want to be making those changes from a position of strength, not when backed into a corner. 'This is the problem facing Treasury advisers – they can construct a sensible abstract argument for a framework that triggers less frequent fiscal changes. But the bond market considers context. And the context would look like the Chancellor is simply kicking the can down the road.' A Treasury spokesman said: 'Our fiscal rules are non-negotiable, they are the basis of the stability that underpins growth, and we have shown at the autumn Budget and spring statement that we will meet them. 'The first Bill passed by this Government included the fiscal lock, which prevents the sidelining of the OBR and demonstrates that this Government will never play fast and loose with public finances.'
Daily Mail
30 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Unite boss calls Angela Rayner 'despicable' after stripping deputy PM of membership when she criticised Birmingham's striking bin workers
The head of the Unite union has branded Angela Rayner as 'despicable' for failing to back striking bin workers in Birmingham. Deputy Prime Minister Ms Rayner has already been kicked out of Labour's largest union paymaster over the bitter row, amid fury at her stance on the fiasco blighting Britain's 'second city'. And now, in the latest deepening of the rift between Labour and Unite, the union's general secretary Sharon Graham has issued a barbed broadside at Ms Rayner, claiming she had acted in a 'despicable way'. Ms Graham warned Labour's current approach on pay, public services, and welfare risks alienating the working-class communities it was founded to represent. 'This Labour government is unrecognisable. If they keep making the poorest pay while politicians claim more expenses, they will lose workers in droves,' Ms Graham told Times Radio's Chloe Tilley. She confirmed the deputy PM's membership in the union is effectively over after widespread anger from Unite members over her handling of the Birmingham dispute. It comes as the union last night threatened to 're-examine its relationship' with Labour over its refusal to side with workers who left the city streets strewn with rubbish and rats - in what could be potentially disastrous for Sir Keir Starmer. 'Angela Rayner has been a Unite member for ten years. She was proud of that when she needed union support. But now, as workers face losing up to £8,000 a year, she is nowhere to be found,' Ms Graham seethed. She said no additional funds have been provided to Labour beyond statutory affiliation fees since her election as General Secretary. 'My job is to fight for workers, not to make the Labour Party look good,' she added. 'If Labour continues to ignore the needs of working people, they will lose their connection to those they claim to represent.' The news comes as Labour accused Unite of engaging in 'silly stunts' after its annual conference voted to suspend the membership of the Deputy PM, who said the spring walk-out had caused 'misery' for locals. Labour insists the workers' pay demands discriminated against female council workers. 'Angela's not interested in stilly stunts, she's interested in changing workers' lives,' a source said last night. 'Unite rejected a deal in Birmingham and their demands would have undermined equal pay, discriminating against female workers. Angela won't be pushed around, and she quit Unite some months ago. 'Angela's been fighting for equal pay for decades as a trade unionist and as a home care worker has experienced what it was like to be paid less as a working class woman for the same work.' Unite insists Ms Rayner remains a member and can therefore be suspended. But it sets the scene for a summer of Labour fights with unions, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting locked in a battle with junior doctors. On Friday, Ms Graham warned the union would 'call out bad employers regardless of the colour of their rosette'. 'Angela Rayner has had every opportunity to intervene and resolve this dispute but has instead backed a rogue council that has peddled lies and smeared its workers fighting huge pay cuts,' she said. 'The disgraceful actions of the government and a so-called Labour council, is essentially fire and rehire and makes a joke of the Employment Relations Act promises. 'People up and down the country are asking whose side is the Labour government on and coming up with the answer not workers.' It is not the first time Unite has threatened to pull its money when it has not got its way. Bin workers walked out in March over planned pay changes by the cash-strapped city council. Unite said the deal would have included 'substantial' pay cuts for workers and did not address potential pay cuts for 200 drivers. People living in the city say their health suffered from the stench of piling waste while 'cat-sized' rats raided the mounting rubbish outside their homes. Visiting the city in April with Local Government Minister, Jim McMahon, Ms Rayner said: 'The people of Birmingham are our first priority – this dispute is causing misery and disruption to residents and the backlog must be dealt with quickly to address public health risks. 'My department is working with Birmingham City Council to support its response to accelerate clearing the backlog and rapidly improve the situation on the ground. Neighbouring authorities are providing additional vehicles and crews, and we are providing logistical support. 'I have pressed both sides to negotiate at pace to urgently find a resolution. There is now a better offer on the table and I would urge Unite to suspend the action and accept the improved deal so we achieve fairness for both workers and residents of this city.' Earlier this year the Mail revealed this week that Union bosses behind strikes which have left the streets of Birmingham piled high with rotting waste are directing the action from outside of the city - in leafy suburbs with regular bin collections. A Downing Street spokesman said the Government's priority throughout the dispute had 'always' been Birmingham's residents. The strikes have resulted in unsanitary conditions throughout the city, with large piles of rubbish in the streets. The No 10 spokesman also told reporters: 'As you know, Unite's industrial action caused disruption to waste collection. 'We have worked intensively with the council to tackle the backlog and clean up the streets for the residents for public health. 'We remain in close contact with the council and continue to monitor the situation as we support its recovery and transformation 'I think it's important to look back to the context of this dispute: Unite is in dispute against Birmingham City Council's decision to reform unfair staff structures, which were a major cause of unequal pay claims and left the council liable to hundreds of millions of pounds in claims, and that was a key factor cited in the council section 114 notice in 2023, declaring bankruptcy.' Shadow communities secretary Kevin Hollinrake said Ms Rayner 'faces a serious conflict of interest, having accepted thousands of pounds from the Unite union to fund her general election campaign'. He added: 'Unions like Unite rarely offer financial support without expecting something in return — and we're already seeing the consequences in their aggressive demands to dismantle key trade union laws. 'It's time for all Labour ministers and the Labour-led council to take a firm stand against these militant unions. A good place to start would be suspending taxpayer-funded ''facility time'' for Unite while their members are on strike.'
