Does Starmer know what to do with the unions?

Before coming into government, Keir Starmer would use his battles with the unions, particularly Unite, as a way of defining himself against the parts of the Labour movement resistant to change. His speech to the Trades Union Congress this morning was more about suggesting that the unions could be part of that change.

I say ‘could’. Parts of the speech made it clear that Starmer still thinks some union bosses need to face up to reality. He told the hall in Brighton that ‘I do have to make clear from a place of respect that this government will not risk its mandate for economic stability under any circumstances. And with tough decisions on the horizon, pay will inevitably be shaped by that.’

That phrase – ‘make clear from a place of respect’ – is just a statesmanlike version of saying ‘no offence but’. Starmer felt he needed to say that, because he still fears the unions don’t think economic stability is the priority, no offence. It was a way of warning them that public sector pay rises won’t be generous in the future – and perhaps of trying to argue to a wider audience that Labour hasn’t just folded to the demands of the unions in recent pay deals either.

He also said he made ‘no apologies to those, still stuck in the 1980s, who believe that unions and business can only stand at odds, leaving working people stuck in the middle’. That was primarily aimed at Conservatives who said better workers’ rights were ‘anti-growth’, but it’s difficult to refer to the 1980s without reminding everyone of militant trade unions.

He then moved to his invitation to unions working with him, saying that ‘economic rules written in the ink of partnership will be more durable and long-lasting, whoever is in power. So it is time to turn the page, business and unions, the private and public sector, united by a common cause to rebuild our public services and grow our economy in a new way.’ The applause from the floor was muted, and there were a couple of low-key heckles. The ink of partnership clearly isn’t flowing just yet.