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Labour 'needs to get off its rump

Trade unionists launched the most stinging and sustained attack on weak-kneed Labour leadership in modern times on Monday when hundreds of GMB delegates called for a sharp change of direction.

They gave a loud and clear clarion call to Labour to get off its backside and fight for the workers it is meant to represent.

Labour leader Ed Miliband and shadow chancellor Ed Balls - who later addressed the congress - came in for the biggest stick for saying they cannot promise to reverse Con-Dem cuts.

The general tone was that the party needs to refocus on social justice, fairness and protecting the rights and conditions of workers if it wants to reconnect with voters.

A string of motions smashed one after the other into the party, which activists claim has lost its way and needs to regroup to strike back at the Con-Dem coalition.

Around 1,000 delegates and guests clapped and cheered speakers who criticised the party from the podium.

GMB is one of the Labour Party's biggest donors, giving £1.2 million every year as an affiliation fee and varying amounts yearly as gifts - £20,000 last year.

Long-time activist Billy Hughes, a union member for 68 years, led the charge. "It is with great sadness because never, ever did I think I would come to any point of criticising my Labour Party - but the truth has got to come out."

He got a standing ovation when he concluded: "We have got to nail our colours to the mast" and said Labour had to put "fire in their bellies" to get re-elected.

Referring to Labour's record in opposition, the words "disgusted and deplore" cropped up, and Sunderland 9 Engineering branch said Labour was "failing to punch above its weight."

General secretary Paul Kenny said the "money box" for extra funding was shut and would stay shut until there were major changes.

"People feel frustrated, angry and let down," Mr Kenny said. "They wanted to be proud of Labour in government, they didn't want more of the same.

"We are not going to put up with more of the same any longer, because people are crying out for social justice."

Delegates also called on Labour to put nationalisation at the top of its economic agenda.

B10 Banbury branch said Labour needs to win back the trust of voters after "years of new Labour betrayal" and it must remember the principles on which it was founded.

Islington 1 and Haringey branch said it was "deeply concerned" about the Labour leadership's recent comments - "the idea that opposition to the coalition's cuts and wages policies is based on a narrow trade union stance is wrong and needs to be challenged."

B43 Birmingham City general branch said: "This conference deplores the Labour party's stance in regard to local government future pay claims."

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IDFIMH

Really took em time to wake up didnt it

I for one aint paying the criminal bankers gambling debts and why should any of you ????????

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All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

the proof of the pudding evidently is in the eating so they say

when asked if your happy with paying the Bankers gambling debts evidently its too complicated for you or you dont care bottom of the earnings league theres a suprise !!

so you would be happy for Etonian spiv Cameron along with Clegg the prostitute to take you down the Greek route ?????????

_________________
All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE