Government gets grilling at Labour Link forum

07.07.09

Senior members of the government got a tough grilling from delegates attending UNISON Labour Link’s national political forum in Manchester this weekend.

Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman and climate change secretary Ed Miliband were pressed repeatedly on health service privatisation plans. Both argued that civil servants had misinterpreted ministerial wishes and promised that the issue would be clarified.

Delegates also heard from MPs Judy Mallaber, Kelvin Hopkins, Charlotte Atkins and pensions minister Angela Eagle and reminded them how strongly UNISON members feel about the scandal around MP expenses.

UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis took up the theme, warning that Labour needed to get back on track. But he also warned that a Tory government would be bad for working people, describing David Cameron as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” waiting to pounce on public services and pensions.