Commenting on the measures outlined in the King’s Speech today (Tuesday), UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“This is a government with nothing left to offer. There was little announced today that will make the slightest bit of difference to the many real and deep-seated problems the country faces.
“This is a legislative programme heavy on cheap political points, but light on policies to right the wrongs of years of foolhardy austerity.
“Conservative governments’ neglect and underfunding of public services have harmed the economy and everyone’s the poorest they’ve ever felt.
“More than four years since the Conservatives promised to fix social care, it doesn’t even get a mention. There’s still no plan to end the crisis and give millions of desperate people comfort for the future.
“Instead, the government’s wasting time and energy attacking unions. Pathetic assaults on the right to strike are against working people and aren’t popular.
“Ministers could do well to remember that more than six million union members will be voting at the next election. This is clearly a government that already knows it’s out of time.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.