TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak has issued a stark warning to whoever becomes the next Prime Minister: they must fix the broken social contract that has left millions of working people feeling the system is rigged against them.
Change Not Coming Fast Enough
After 14 years of stagnating living standards and austerity under the Conservatives, working people voted for change. They wanted a Labour government that would make a real difference to their lives. But for too many, that change has not come fast enough. However, it has not been all doom and gloom. This government has had some real achievements, including bringing railways back into public ownership, lifting millions of children out of poverty by scrapping the two-child benefit cap, and delivering the biggest upgrade to workers' rights in a generation.
But the good work has been overshadowed by too many self-inflicted mistakes and a failure to shout proudly about those achievements. With Labour now soul-searching after last week's local election results, and a possible leadership contest looming, one thing is clear: whoever is Prime Minister today, tomorrow, in five years or in ten, will have to fix the broken social contract in this country.
The System Is Rigged
For many across Britain, there is a palpable sense that the system is rigged against them. Millions feel they are doing everything asked of them: working harder than ever, playing by the rules, yet still struggling to get ahead. They bear the brunt of every global shock, from the financial crash to COVID, Ukraine, Trump, and now Iran. Meanwhile, those at the top are raking it in. Chief executive pay goes up regardless of company performance. The number of UK billionaires has doubled since 2010, but that wealth has not trickled down to ordinary people. It is being hoarded by a wealthy few.
At the same time, living standards have been squeezed, poverty levels have remained high, and the number of people in low-paid, insecure work has exploded. When Nowak was growing up in Merseyside in the 1980s and 1990s, people were poor because they could not get a job. Today, millions of people who are in work are still struggling to get by: 70% of children who live in poverty have at least one parent who works. For those people, the word 'change' feels more like a slogan than a lived reality.
A Call to Action
Nowak's message to the government and all those across the Labour Party is simple: it is time to stand up and show working people you are on their side. Ask the wealthiest to pay a fairer share. Invest in public services. And do everything in your power to create good, secure jobs that people can build a decent life on.
Tommy Robinson: Unity the Last Thing He Stands For
This weekend, far-right street thug Tommy Robinson organised a so-called 'Unite the Kingdom' rally. But unity is the last thing Tommy Robinson stands for. Robinson cosplays as a patriot but loves to talk Britain down, happily stoking riots and racial violence on our streets while he spends his supporters' donations on luxury hotel suites in just about every holiday hotspot you can think of. Real patriotism is never about scapegoating others. Big John, social media star and takeaway enthusiast, said it right when he told the TUC he would never use our national flag to bully or intimidate anyone. He knows that real patriotism is about caring for each other and working together to build a better, more just Britain. The likes of Tommy Robinson seek to divide us. They thrive off fear and resentment. That is not patriotism and it never will be. In our neighbourhoods, our workplaces, and our communities, unity and solidarity remain our greatest strengths.
Nigel Farage: Handing Power to Wealthy Pals
Self-acclaimed working-class champion Nigel Farage cashed in £1.4 million on a house just after receiving a £5 million donation from crypto-billionaire Christopher Harbourne. A donation that he failed to declare and which has now triggered a parliamentary standards investigation. It is plain dodgy. And it shows whose side Farage and Reform are on. Farage likes to claim he is taking on the elites, but really he is desperate to hand more power to his wealthy pals and corporate backers.
Reform on Another Planet
We now know why Reform-run Doncaster Council opposed Doncaster Airport reopening. Reform councillor Kieran Lay warned of supersonic UFOs flying over the airport, calling for a special committee to investigate. But thanks to union pressure, the airport is now cleared for lift-off. Ground control to Reform: you have really failed the grade.
