Starmer’s reshuffle and march of Reform dominate discussions at TUC conference
For union delegates gathering in Brighton, sunshine glimmered on the Channel outside the annual TUC conference but the focus for many inside was on stormy developments elsewhere.After a tough first year in power for Labour, two big spectres dominated the meeting: disappointment with Keir Starmer’s government, and the march of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.The prime minister’s unexpectedly far-reaching reshuffle had provoked union fears that Labour may temper its plan to boost workers’ rights in yet another pro-growth reset.Business leaders are already sensing an opportunity: Britain’s economy is weak, inflation is rising, Rachel Reeves’s tax on employment in her first autumn budget has chilled the jobs market, and the prospect of further rises, in her second act on 26 November, are looming.For many it was ironic that the union gathering was taking place while the London Underground was brought close to a standstill by striking RMT members.
Meanwhile, Labour was entering a potentially fractious deputy leadership battle of the kind Starmer promised was only really a feature of the last Tory government.Businesses reckon Angela Rayner’s resignation and the sacking of Justin Madders, the junior minister responsible for the workers’ rights legislation – both politicians have close links to the union movement – could remove obstacles, while Peter Kyle, the new business secretary, had a warm relationship with tech bosses in his old job.For union leaders, however, Labour watering down its workers’ rights bill, after a string of measures in Starmer’s first year hitting the poorest in society – not least cuts to winter fuel and proposed disability benefit cuts – would be a red line.Sharon Graham, the Unite general secretary, said: “I do not understand how a Labour government has been attacking some of poorest in our society … pensioners, the disabled … whilst leaving the super-rich totally untouched.“What the hell are Labour doing?”After a tough year, it would also be yet another own goal.
Many felt that Starmer’s decision to remove Madders – who, in the bar of the Grand Hotel, was commiserated by union bosses – was a misstep that had provoked unnecessary headlines about a new internecine Labour battle and yet more broken promises.“It does seem like they have shot themselves in the foot a few times.I think they’re running out of legs to shoot at the moment,” said Steve Wright, the general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union.Most union leaders drew a link between Labour fulfilling its workers’ rights reforms and killing off ballooning support for Farage, with a message that reneging on another promise would play into Reform’s hands.Paul Nowak, the TUC general secretary, used his conference address to tell the prime minister he must show he is on the side of workers, adding that “‘change’ still feels like a slogan and not a lived reality”.
“[Delivering the employment rights bill is] the best way to rebuild our communities hit hard by low pay and insecure work … the sort of communities Nigel Farage likes to say he represents,” he said,Downing Street sought to play down the fears, saying that the government is committed to the policy,Sign up to First EditionOur morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it mattersafter newsletter promotionEd Miliband, the energy secretary, was dispatched to speak at a dinner for the TUC general council at Brighton’s Grand hotel,Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, will also attempt to reassure unions on Tuesday in her keynote Brighton speech,With the prospect of a rancorous Labour party conference later this month, most union leaders said they did not believe the government would weaken the policy substantially.
Mike Clancy, the general secretary of the Prospect trade union, said: “I can’t see them doing it.I think it would be politically untenable.Because that would confirm there was intent behind the changes in the business department, and it was to favour business over working people.”However, sources close to Labour and the unions said that while the bill would become law, it was likely that key elements would be watered down or delayed in the implementation of the policy to appease worried businesses.For many, the priority of the TUC conference was to send a message that workers cannot shoulder the burden for the sticky position Britain’s economy – and the public finances – finds itself in.
Motions pushing for Labour to adopt a wealth tax had huge support.On the sidelines, the new leader of the Green party, Zack Polanski, held a fringe meeting pushing for such a levy – highlighting how Starmer could risk losing support from his left flank as well as the right.“Sadly, a year on, people do not see the change they voted for and expected,” said Matt Wrack, the general secretary of Nasuwt, the teachers’ union.“We have stagnating living standards in the face of a cost of living crisis and the super-rich have got ever richer,” he said.“[We need] no more delays, no more broken promises … Millions are watching and our test is to fight for that change and deliver it.
”
CBI boss calls for Reeves to tear up Labour’s pledge not to raise tax
The boss of the Confederation of British Industry has suggested the chancellor should tear up Labour’s manifesto pledge not to raise taxes on working people, in a significant intervention before the budget.Rachel Reeves is widely expected to present a package of tax rises in her 26 November statement to offset deteriorating economic forecasts. However, the chancellor has been hamstrung by Labour’s promise not to increase the three main revenue-raisers for the Treasury: income tax, national insurance and VAT.In a surprise move in the debate about how to raise extra revenue, the CBI’s chief executive, Rain Newton-Smith, says the “time for tinkering is over”.Writing in the Guardian, the head of the longstanding lobby group representing many of the UK’s largest companies warns the chancellor against “slavish adherence” to tax promises made in the run-up to last year’s general election
Drilling down into the case for North Sea oil | Letters
Nils Pratley (Oil and gas imports are a problem. Labour should rethink its North Sea stance, 2 September) cites Offshore Energies’ estimate that offshore jobs are being lost at a rate of about 1,000 a month. What this and a similar estimate by the shadow energy minister, Andrew Bowie, of 400 job losses every fortnight up to 2030, misses is that this is less than half the rate of job losses under the Tories between 2013 and 2023. During this time, they continued to invest in new oil and gas fields and 227,000 workers lost their jobs all the same. That’s a rate of 436 a week
The women in love with AI companions: ‘I vowed to my chatbot that I wouldn’t leave him’
Experts are concerned about people emotionally depending on AI, but these women say their digital companions are misunderstoodThe Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more.A young tattoo artist on a hiking trip in the Rocky Mountains cozies up by the campfire, as her boyfriend Solin describes the constellations twinkling above them: the spidery limbs of Hercules, the blue-white sheen of Vega.The Guardian’s journalism is independent
Meta hid harms to children from VR products, whistleblowers allege
A group of six whistleblowers have come forward with allegations of a cover-up of harm to children on Meta’s virtual reality devices and apps. They say the social media company, which owns Facebook and Instagram, and offers a line of VR headsets and games, deleted or doctored internal safety research that showed children being exposed to grooming, sexual harassment and violence in its 3D realms.“Meta knew that underage children were using its products, but figured, ‘Hey, kids drive engagement,’ and it was making them cash,” Jason Sattizahn, one of the whistleblowers who worked on the company’s VR research, said in a statement. “Meta has compromised their internal teams to manipulate research and straight-up erase data that they don’t like.”Sattizahn and the other whistleblowers, all current or former Meta employees, have disclosed these findings and a trove of documents to Congress, according to the Washington Post, which first reported the allegations
Ashes not on Adil Rashid’s mind as England plot path to T20 World Cup
The way the ball is coming out of Adil Rashid’s hand this summer – those gyroscopic leg‑breaks and googlies still so utterly seductive – there is a case for Ben Stokes to flick him a WhatsApp message that reads simply: “Ashes?”It was enough to persuade Rashid’s best friend, Moeen Ali, to return to the fray in 2023, an SOS answered initially with an LOL. Looking ahead to the Ashes tour this winter Rashid, even aged 37 and having not fizzed down a red ball for six years (no barrier these days), would surely enhance the squad.For a start, Rashid is unquestionably the finest leg‑spinner England have produced in the past 50 years: a stellar career spanning nearly two decades that has returned 512 first‑class wickets, 427 in international cricket, and delivered two World Cup wins along the way. Oh, and an MBE.To watch Rashid bowl to South Africa during the recent one‑day international series was to take in a master at work – utter control of a skill that takes years to perfect
AFL finals: where the Brisbane v Gold Coast semi-final will be won and lost
Brisbane have been here before. The reigning premiers are in their seventh consecutive AFL finals series and twice in that stretch have faced a straight-sets exit. The concern will be that on both of those occasions, in 2019 and 2021, the Lions were unable to lift themselves from a qualifying final defeat and were bundled out at the semi-final stage.The Lions have grown up since then to become an AFL heavyweight and after four straight finals victories last year were finally rewarded with a premiership. Brisbane must now stare down a new challenger to their crown as Gold Coast take their club-first finals campaign into a second week after a rousing elimination final win
Raising the bar: Duplantis leads the stars aiming to break world records in Tokyo
’Bigger than a bow’: Women’s Rugby World Cup organisers take aim at online hate
The Breakdown | England’s juggernaut must be wary of wheels coming off as World Cup stakes rise
The Sparks’ Cameron Brink is redefining what it means to be a young WNBA star
Take the strain: Tug of War World Championships
Athletics can’t keep kidding itself – it needs a five-pronged plan to save track and field | Sean Ingle