Liberal Democrat Danny Alexander's Address to the GMB Union

Speaking in Brighton on 12th June, 2012, Liberal Democrat Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander addressed the GMB trade union conference. The speech, his first to a trade union conference, highlighted the historic relationship between Liberals and trade unions and emphasised the common ground between the Liberal Democrats and the union movement.

Danny Alexander reminded everyone that it was a Liberal Prime Minister, William Gladstone, who legalised trade unions almost 150 years ago. They and the Liberal Democrats share many common values and objectives.

They have been together at the heart of some of the key economic, political and social reforms for this country.
Regulating working hours .
Improving working conditions .
Extending national insurance.
Laying the foundations of our welfare state with the Beveridge Report.
Understanding the economic advantages of Britain playing a strong role in Europe.
More recently, opposing the war in Iraq.

And the Liberal Democrats continue to share many of the goals of the Trade Union movement.

As demonstrated by Vince's work with the TUC and Unite to secure jobs and investment at Ellesmere Port - a shared effort that will safeguard 2,000 jobs, directly create 700 new jobs and secure car production at Ellesmere Port until at least 2020.

And as well as specific examples of collaboration, we share a common desire to change the balance of power right across our country. To change who has the power and how it is distributed.

The Liberal Democrats have been clear on their priorities for public spending.

• improving social mobility - including bringing in a pupil premium for the most disadvantaged children;
• providing capital investment that supports jobs in our economy - including through our commitments to transport projects, the Regional Growth Fund and the Get Britain Building fund;
• prioritising education and training, particularly apprenticeships, so that our people have the skills they need to drive the economy forward; and
• protecting the vulnerable - including, by ensuring that those earning less than £21,000 a year receive some uplift even during the public sector pay freeze.
• delivering a record number of Apprenticeships - an increase of 250,000 over the Spending Review period;
• starting a Youth Contract in April which will provide opportunities for up to 500,000 young people
• introducing up to 160,000 wage subsidies for employers and 40,000 new incentive payments for employers to take on a young apprentice.
• ensuring at retirement, those on low and middle incomes will get at least as good a pension as they do now;
• protecting those at the bottom end of the income scale from the contribution increases;
• protecting those nearing retirement from the effects of the wider reforms.

Danny concluded by quoting with approval the words of Will Thorne, founder of the GMB,

"There is a world of freedom, beauty and equality to gain, where everyone will have an opportunity to express the best that is in them for the benefit of all, making the world a place more to our heart's desire and the better to dwell in"