John Hannett welcomes Blair speech as getting back to the real business of running the country

Usdaw General Secretary John Hannett says Tony Blair’s speech to Labour’s conference has drawn a line under recent distractions and challenged the Government to get back to the real business of running Britain.

“This was a speech that reminded us of Labour’s massive achievements over the last decade, but also set the Government back on course to get back to the real business of running the country,” John Hannett said. “Our members have been telling us loud and clear the events of recent weeks have been an unnecessary distraction and this speech showed the Prime Minister has really listened to their concerns.

“This was a speech looking back on a decade that saw retail workers enjoy the real benefits of the national minimum wage revolutionising their lifestyles, but the Prime Minister also set out an agenda in education, the NHS and measures to tackle global warming that will encourage our members that this Government will achieve still more for Britain’s three million shopworkers.

“Tony Blair has been a great reforming Prime Minister and this speech was one of his best. It was a powerful speech full of a vision and passion that talked over the heads of the chattering classes and addressed the real needs of working people across the UK.

“He drew a firm line under the events of the last fortnight and set out an exciting agenda of a modern Britain, where respect for others is vital, that will resonate with our members who are all too often the victims of violent assaults.”

Notes to Editors:

• Contacts for newsdesks: Usdaw’s Media Officer, Paul Clarke, can be contacted on 0161 249 2469 or e-mail paul.clarke@usdaw.org.uk.
• Usdaw (the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK’s fifth biggest trade union, with over 340,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
• More information and news releases are available at our online Newsroom.
• Journalists can subscribe to receive Usdaw news releases via our online e-news service.

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