Burnham speech points to a Britain run for people not profit - TSSA

Transport and travel union TSSA has praised Andy Burnham's first speech as Prime Minister to Labour’s Annual Conference for pointing the way to ‘a country and an economy which is run in the name of people and not profit’.

In his speech to the gathering in Liverpool Burnham said that for too long the country had been tilted towards ‘vested interests not in the public interest, with power held in too few hands’, for which he won a standing ovation.

Commenting, TSSA General Secretary Maryam Eslamdoust said: “The Prime Minister is showing that he gets it, that we need a country and an economy which is run in the name of people and not profit. We cannot continue down the path we have been on.

“Working people and families have been paying for the excesses of a failed economic model since the banks crashed in 2008. They deserve a break, and an economy reset to serve their interests.

“Capping bus fares at £2 and taking VAT off electricity bills are steps in the right direction. So is the commitment to put more of life’s essentials under public control. We want to see what that means in practice for energy and water, alongside the government’s plans to give councils a stronger role in building secure, affordable homes.

“Since 2010 the foundations of our economy and public services have been eroded. Growth will only last if those foundations are rebuilt – with reliable transport, affordable homes and utilities, strong public services and decent work.

“That means jobs, jobs, jobs — good, secure, unionised jobs with proper pay and prospects. Young people and graduates should not be pushed into low-pay, insecure work or left to make do in the gig economy.

“Our union looks forward to working with Andy Burnham to bring our railways fully into public hands and deliver for our members as Great British Railways takes shape. That means protecting jobs, pensions, pay, travel facilities, terms and conditions, and giving workers a real say in the transition. For GBR to succeed we must deliver a just transition to a transport system and a country that works for everyone.”