Unions and business leaders welcome speech, despite hecklers

SIR Keir Starmer secured union and business backing for his leader’s speech, amid claims that heckling showed Labour is “preoccupied fighting amongst themselves”.

Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the TUC, said the speech “shows that Labour has a plan for fixing the cost of living crisis, for delivering decent work and pay, and for giving our children a brighter future.”

Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said: “Keir set out a new vision for the party and a new vision for the country.” She added: “This is a serious plan for change.”

But Unite’s national officer Rob MacGregor, speaking for the union, said: “If you’re a Unite member worried about the cost of living crisis, empty petrol pumps, abhorrent fire and rehire in our workplaces and the end of furlough just hours away, there wasn’t much for you in this speech.”

Momentum co-chairman Andrew Scattergood said: “Starmer’s speech identified a lot of problems but offered very few solutions.”

Conservative Party chairman Oliver Dowden said Labour was “more divided than ever and has no plan”, adding: “Labour spent five days talking to themselves about themselves instead of to the country.”

Business-wise, CBI director general Tony Danker said Labour has “taken an important step forward” by outlining an agenda where businesses can find common ground. He said: “Its ambitions to decarbonise the economy and build a better future for everyone through improving education are shared by business.”

Shevaun Haviland, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “Businesses will welcome the focus on digital skills, investment in R&D and the need to make Brexit work. However, despite the warm rhetoric, what firms really need are concrete, costed proposals and meaningful detail on delivery.”