TRADE unions yesterday welcomed the election of Jeremy Corbyn as Labour Party leader.
This was after the explosion of working class anger inside and around the Labour Party against the Tories, and Labour’s ‘Tory look-alike’ leadership which saw Corbyn win almost 60% of the vote in the first round of balloting. Commenting on the election result, Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said: ‘The election of Jeremy Corbyn is a welcome and remarkable turnaround in British politics.
‘It has been based on a groundswell of opposition to ever growing inequality, to the destruction of our public services and to the austerity policies which serve the interests of the rich and big business at the expense of the majority. All those involved in this remarkable campaign will need to unite to build a mass movement to challenge the Tory attacks here and now as well as to build a new politics based on democracy and on the interests of the majority. Trade unions should be central to that debate.’
The GMB’s Paul Kenny was more equivocal saying: ‘Jeremy will concentrate on issues and not personalities. People should wait and see and judge Jeremy on what he does. The composition of the shadow cabinet will be an interesting test.’
He warned about the new influx: ‘It was New Labour that pushed for registered supporters to dilute the influence of the votes of union members. They have been successful in reducing the participation of union members but on the registered supporters it may be: “be careful what you wish for”.’
Mick Cash, RMT General Secretary, said: ‘RMT’s AGM voted to back Jeremy and his election is a massive shot in the arm for everyone fighting austerity, anti-union laws and for a return of our privatised services to public ownership.’
Unite’s Len McCluskey said: ‘Voters can now look at Labour and see, unquestionably, that it stands for fairness, justice, peace and strong communities. It is the party of hope, ready to take on a government hell-bent on making life worse for ordinary people.’
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: ‘We warmly congratulate Jeremy Corbyn and Tom Watson on their respective victories. We look forward to working with them, with the unsuccessful candidates, and with the whole Labour Party to try and win a better deal for people at work.
‘Now the Labour Party has elected its new leadership team, it’s time for it to get on with the job of opposition – starting on Monday, with the second reading of the government’s Trade Union Bill, which threatens the right to strike.’
None of the union leaders spoke about the struggle for socialism, or action to smash the anti-union laws. They are continuing with their ludicrous march to the Tory Party conference. Corbyn, put into office by an uprising of workers and youth, is now trying to douse the flames by forming a broad-church shadow cabinet despite notable right wing defections.
Already defeated rivals Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall, shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt, shadow work and pensions secretary Rachel Reeves and shadow chancellor Chris Leslie, are among those who have said they will not serve under him. Jamie Reed, shadow health secretary, and Emma Reynolds, shadow secretary for communities and local government, both resigned from the front bench.
Defeated leadership contender and shadow health secretary Andy Burnham has refused to comment on his position. Labour Party right wingers have already said that they will vote with the Tories to make war on Syria and for Tory Welfare Legislation, preferring to keep the Tories in office rather than defeat them.
Many are in favour of a national government rather than a Corbyn-led ‘socialist government’. Labour is set to split when these issues sharpen. Corbyn is to speak at the TUC Congress on Tuesday.
