Usdaw thanks Keir Starmer for his contribution and sets out its priorities for incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham

Usdaw General Secretary Joanne Thomas says: “Keir Starmer has made an immense contribution to our movement, and we will always be grateful to him for turning around the Labour Party, after its worst defeat in living memory and securing a landslide election victory many said he couldn’t win.
 
“Under his leadership, Labour has delivered the biggest uplift in workers’ rights for a generation. The Government increased the National Living Wage, introduced significant legislation to tackle retail crime and help prevent violence, threats and abuse against shop workers, strengthened security for renters by banning no-fault evictions, lifted millions of children out of poverty by ending the two-child limit on Universal Credit, reduced NHS waiting lists and rebuilt the UK’s reputation on the world stage. I thank Keir Starmer for his service and wish him every success in the future.
 
“In his first speech as Prime Minister, Andy Burnham promised a new political and economic model that puts caring, fairness and working people at the heart of Government. His commitment to ending rough sleeping, building more council housing and bringing life’s essentials back under stronger public control are welcome steps.
 
“We look forward to working with the new Government to deliver Labour's New Deal for Working People in full. That means ending exploitative zero-hours contracts by giving all workers the right to a contract that reflects the hours they regularly work, banning fire and rehire, strengthening workplace rights and introducing restrictions on employers using technology to spy on their employees.”