TUC chief urges Blair to go quietly
The general secretary of the TUC has urged Tony Blair to resign at the right time to allow his party to get ready for the next election.
Brendan Barber said New Labour needed “new impetus” following the slashing of its majority at the general election in May.
And he gave his organisation’s support for Mr Blair’s likely successor, Gordon Brown, saying the chancellor commanded “enormous respect” from the trade union movement.
Speaking ahead of the annual TUC conference in Brighton next week, Mr Barber said he hoped “an orderly transition” would take place allowing the new leader “to stamp their personality and authority on the government”.
He suggested the ideal time for a leadership contest would be in mid 2007, although he refused to outline a precise timetable.
While the TUC leader acknowledged that “pretty sharp differences” existed with the chancellor over some issues, he said: “Gordon commands an enormous amount of respect around the trade union movement.”
He praised Mr Brown’s “overall record on economic management” and his “driving commitment to employment and to tackling child poverty”.
However, Mr Barber warned Labour against complacency given its reduced majority and said the third term of power should move forward with a clear sense of purpose.
“For a period it felt like the Labour leadership could pay precious little heed to its traditional supporters and to the values that bind them together,” he said.
“I want this congress to mark the start of a third term with a clear sense of purpose that rebuilds and renews people’s belief in the progressive values of the Labour government.”
Mr Barber also urged the government to honour pledges on pensions and agency worker rights in the so-called Warwick Agreement, penned last year, saying equal treatment for agency workers had yet to come on stream.
