The TUC Congress is not just a key date in the diary for 5.5 million unionised workers and the 48 member unions, but also for Sir Keir Starmer, at his first Congress since becoming Prime Minister.
It can set the tone for Labour’s conference season, as the party decides which union motions to progress, and set the news agenda; potentially taking the wind out of the sails of other political conferences.
Equally, a tempestuous Congress can cause Labour leaders and prime ministers political headaches, which leaders of the past, such as Neil Kinnock and Sir Tony Blair, have experienced. Where possible, the leader would use the keynote speech to enthuse the core support base, delicately manage union expectations and demonstrate a united front to the country.
Starmer’s speech at the TUC followed a similar format to that of his previous political interventions, covering three areas: expectation management, a changed Labour Party and a programme of radical reform.
His approach matched a similar strategy taken by President Biden when he first entered the White House: expectation management in the form of under promising and over delivering, while justifying the need for tough decisions. The prime minister’s warning of an inheritance “worse than anyone could have imagined” reiterates his efforts to temper the expectations of his audience.
Emphasising his guiding principle of “country first, party second” the Prime Minister sought to park his pragmatic tanks on the lawn of the centre-ground of British politics. His repeated message of a changed Labour Party and its approach to government means it is the responsibility of this government to operate as the bridge between business and workers.
The central theme of the speech, that pro-business and pro-worker partnerships are integral to rewiring the economy and in pursuit of national renewal, is a message designed to permeate beyond the walls of the conference hall. This message was given alongside a reaffirmation of Labour’s commitment to repeal the 2016 Trade Union Act and get rid of minimum service level regulation, both of which were received with large ovations.
On another note, in emphasising the Chancellor’s mantra of economic credibility, the Prime Minister issued a firm reminder that “government will not risk its mandate for economic stability, under any circumstances” with “tough decisions on the horizon” arguably aimed at a jittery internal audience at both the TUC Congress and in Westminster, in the context of the much anticipated vote on changes to the winter fuel allowance.
Forging the politics of partnership is the means by which the Prime Minister intends to operate, but Labour’s five missions for reform remain key to how he wishes his government to be judged.
It’s why the Prime Minister underlined the work being done to deliver “the biggest levelling up of workers’ rights in a generation” by reaffirming his commitment to ‘Make Work Pay’, which the trade union movement will undoubtedly scrutinise line-by-line in the coming weeks and months.
An influential voice across the trade union and Labour movement, the TUC General Secretary, Paul Nowak struck a helpful and generous tone towards the Prime Minister, who is facing criticism from trade unions such as Unite, the Fire Brigade Union and the PCS on policies areas such as the cut to winter fuel payments.
Grounding his speech in messages of unity, solidarity and the importance of the trade union movement rolling up its sleeves and working in partnership with the Labour government, Nowak echoed the approach that influential unions such as GMB and Unison have taken in influencing Labour thinking behind the scenes, in contrast to Unite who seek to influence by publicly scrutinising decisions taken.
Whilst helpfully prefacing the Prime Minister’s message of expectation management and that “things won’t happen overnight”, Nowak referenced the importance of Labour’s flagship policies. Though he acknowledged that unions won’t always agree with the decisions of the Labour government, he spoke about plans such as the renationalisation of the railways, the new deal for working people and closing the non-dom loophole, leaving the trade union movement and the Labour government in no uncertain terms where the red lines are.
