The Spectator

Surrender to the unions

Faced with union bully boys, the government is still capitulating

issue 22 October 2005

When Edward Heath was held to ransom by the unions in 1974, he called an election with the stirring question, ‘Who governs Britain?’, to which the answer was ‘not you, chum’. It is incredible that after more than 30 years, when so much is meant to have changed, the unions have just rolled over a New Labour government, with disastrous consequences for the public finances.

Over the past year the Trade and Industry Secretary Alan Johnson has made a series of bold interviews and speeches on the need to reform public sector pensions, whose over-generous provisions promise to bankrupt future governments. Mr Johnson’s determination and common sense made him a worthy ‘Minister to Watch’ at last year’s Spectator Parliamentarian of the Year awards. He remains a minister to watch, but now for a slightly different reason: an ability to perform U-turns at a speed of which a joyriding yobbo on a sink estate would be proud.

These are the words of the Trade Secretary, from an interview published at the weekend, still maintaining the need for reform.

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in