Prescotts pre-election date with union

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has accepted an invitation to speak to the Annual Conference of the Shopworkers’ Union, Usdaw, in Blackpool at the end of next month.

It will be the only opportunity afforded a Cabinet Minister to address a major trade union before the predicted General Election on 3 May.

The re-election of a Labour Government will be the dominant theme of the Conference, which will take place in the Winter Gardens from 22-25 April. Political issues on the Preliminary Agenda include a resolution calling for all-women General Election shortlists and two resolutions seeking to protect the autonomy of constituency parties, including the right to determine their own candidates.

State pensions are the subject of various resolutions, with calls for increases in line with inflation, restoration of the link with earnings and a fixed formula to take the issue out of the political arena.

Among controversial resolutions are calls to tie newly-qualified doctors to the NHS for a minimum five years, free IVF treatment throughout the NHS and charging criminals for their victim's hospital treatment.

Echoing widespread national support, two resolutions highlight Usdaw's own campaign to stop large stores opening on Christmas Day - the last remaining holiday for most shopworkers - which is the subject of a Private Members Bill currently going through Parliament.

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