A TALE OF TWO SPEECHES

 

STARMER’S ‘We’re back in business” speech to the CBI yesterday couldn’t contrast more with Corbyn’s speech to the same organisation in 2018. While Corbyn’s was full of plans and ways to help people, Starmer’s was all about giving a hand to businesses. And yes, I do understand that should have been his focus while addressing the CBI, but would it be so bad to speak about supporting workers also? You know, Labour – the party of working people.

Interesting also to note he finally started to use ‘we’ instead of 'I'. He didn't use it when speaking at Labour conference, yet uses it with business leaders. 

“We need increased business investment. A better capital stock and improved infrastructure. We need to embrace new technology. We need to lift our export performance.”

He did say we need investment in people “to ensure they have the skills that are right for the modern economy” but while his speech mentioned youth training – always good – he didn’t say a dicky bird about the protection of workers. He comes out with these sentences such as “giving business a generation of young people ready for work” as if young people are to be handed over to businesses on a platter, all ready for them to be chewed up and spit out. Which, going by Starmer’s record, is probably what he means, but what about those already in work and being paid abysmally?

Labour is supposed to be the party of the working people, and yes, that can of course include businesses, but it should prioritise the needs of working people over the needs of their employers, because we already have the Tories as cheerleaders for business.

Contrast the above with what Jeremy Corbyn said three years ago when giving his speech.

“We will legislate to ensure a third of the seats on company boards are reserved for elected worker-directors. And we will give employees a stake in company profits by asking big businesses to transfer shares to be held by workers in trust.

“Despite the frenzied reactions in certain sections of the press this certainly isn’t about any kind of war on business, rather the opposite. Labour recognises the vast and vital contribution businesses make to our economy and our society. And at the heart of that contribution are your employees. They have an interest in the long-term success of your company – their company. They have in-depth knowledge of its day to day workings. They have so much to contribute and giving them a real voice will strengthen, not weaken, the business. Workers create profits. Giving workers a share in them isn’t just fair, it’s good for business.”

You see it? Corbyn recognises that businesses need the workers, that workers are at the heart of business, while with Starmer it’s more that workers are fodder for businesses.

And did Starmer mention unions? Of course he didn’t. He’s happy to take their money (for as long as they are willing to give it), but support them? Give me a break! He did however announce the introduction  of ‘his’ new “Council of Skills Advisors, David Blunkett, working along with the tech entrepreneur, Praful Nargund and the skills expert Rachel Sandby Thomas… to recommend the change we need to ensure everyone leaves education, job ready and life ready.”

He went on and on about the next generation, and obviously we need to think about them and ensure they will have jobs, but what about the approximately 32 million already in work? They need support and protection from unscrupulous employers. (Not all employers are unscrupulous I hasten to add, but it’s naive to think a great many are not.)

Corbyn was also concerned about the next generation, only he didn’t use almost his whole speech to talk about them and how they’re apparently only there to make money for businesses. Instead, he said:  “Labour will create a National Education Service to provide both vocational and academic training to anyone who wants it throughout their life. That is the best way to ensure people are equipped with the skills they need to flourish. Because education doesn’t just benefit the individual who receives it, it benefits the economy and society as a whole.”

Focusing not just on the young, but on people who may need to retrain for a new job.

And contrast these. Corbyn: “Britain’s infrastructure – its roads, its railways and its telecommunications desperately needs an upgrade. That is why Labour is also planning to create a National Transformation Fund. This will provide a further £250 billion, making sure we have the infrastructure we need to achieve our potential.” Starmer: “We really don’t think that the solution to every problem is to throw cash at it.” No, not every problem Keith, but where needed the cash should be made available. It’s common sense man. If the Tories have millions to bung to their mates on failed projects I don’t think it’s too far fetched to think you could use that same amount of cash to actually help working people. 

It really is beyond me now how there are any working class voters left who think Starmer will in any way whatsoever be on our side.

But let’s not forget, because Starmer certainly didn’t, the obligatory dad reference: “I thought of my dad. He was a skilled industrial worker. A tool maker in a factory.”

Seriously people, seriously? You think this man is on your side?

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