NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TUESDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 2002
BLAIR SPEECH TO TUC - STUC WELCOMES COMMITMENT TO UNITED NATIONS, SLAMS MARGINALISATION OF SCOTLAND, WALES AND NORTHERN IRELAND
Following the Prime Minister's speech to the TUC Congress in Blackpool, STUC General Secretary, Bill Speirs, said:
"Tony Blair's recognition that there can be no launch of war against Iraq without United Nations involvement is welcome, if belated.
"The rest of the speech, however, was astonishing for its ignoring of the fact that he is Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, not England.
"He reeled off a set of statistics and educational references that applied only to England - it was a real gift to the SNP.
"Particularly difficult to listen to was his references to partnership between the UK Government and the Trade Union Movement. The STUC had meetings with Margaret Thatcher and John Major. Tony Blair has never agreed to meet the Trade Union Movement in Scotland - which is disappointing, to say the least.
"If Mr Blair wants to be a real British leader, he has to start talking to and for all other people, not just big business."
ENDS
For further comment, contact:
Bill Speirs