Sir Keir Starmer is braced for a clash with unions as his insistence on removing winter fuel payments from 10 million pensioners sparks a significant rebellion among Labour MPs.
With the prime minister expected to address the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in Brighton today, its president has warned that a second wave of austerity will boost the rise of the far right in Britain’s left-behind communities and bolster Nigel Farage’s push for power.
Matt Wrack, the Fire Brigades Union general secretary and current president of the TUC, has warned Sir Keir that his mandate for power is based on a collapse in support for the Tories “not love for Labour”.
“People are in despair, and that’s how [far-right] elements have won support here in the UK and elsewhere in Europe,” he warned.
Mr Wrack admitted union activists arrive at the annual conference “feeling much more positive” about the prospects for their members since Labour’s massive election victory in July. But serious differences remain over economic policy with fears that Sir Keir and his chancellor Rachel Reeves are heralding a new age of austerity similar to George Osborne after the banking collapse.
Sir Keir and Ms Reeves insist the cancellation of winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners is necessary to fix a £22bn black hole in Britain’s finances.
The pair have refused to back down even though health secretary Wes Streeting has expressed his disquiet. And an early day motion put forward by new Labour MP Neil Duncan-Jordan opposing the measure has now been signed by36 MPs, including six suspended Labour MPs and 18 current Labour members.
There is anger that the government has refused to publish an impact assessment on the winter fuel payment cuts before MPs vote on the issue in parliament. A written answer to former Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell said it would be “published in due course”.
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