by Keith Richmond
TRADE union leaders hit back after David Cameron, in his keynote speech to the Conservative Party conference, promised that a Tory government would be based on “sound money and low taxes”.
The Tory leader pledged “to rein in government spending”, end the “spendaholic culture” and added that the “really big savings” would come by “reforming inefficient public services”.
He said he would say no to the unions even in “the teeth of hostility and protest” – but promised business he would cut corporation tax by
3 per cent.
Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, said: “Once again, the Tories showed their true colours in Birmingham. They have no economic strategy to deliver their ‘social revival’ and it is in our schools and hospitals where the price will be paid. They are still the same old party who, if they are allowed to win power, will always look after their friends in big business.”
Unite accused Mr Cameron of being “cheesy and sleazy” and said it was “his cronies cashing in on the credit crunch”.
In a bid to counter Gordon Brown’s “no time for a novice” jibe at the Labour Party conference – a dig that struck home during the current economic crisis and damaged Mr Cameron – the Tory leader said: “It’s not experience we need, it’s character and judgement.”
But Mr Cameron tried to have it both ways. He said he backed Mr Brown’s rescue plan – legislation to let the Bank of England rescue failing banks could come before the House of Commons as early as Monday after he promised his party’s co-operation in rushing it onto the statute books – but he also told the party faithful in Birmingham: “To rebuild our economy, it’s not more of the same we need, but change.”
Mr Cameron had been working on his speech for weeks but was forced to tear it up and start again with the turmoil in financial markets. He eschewed personal criticism of Mr Brown but criticised decisions the Prime Minister had taken and “the mistakes that have been made”.
It was a sober – some observers said dull – speech for what Mr Cameron described as a sober conference. The global economic crisis called, he said, for a “measured, proportionate and responsible” response.
Party workers made sure there were no flags or hats in the hall at Birmingham and did their best to make sure the best seats were taken not by old friends from the Bullingdon Club but by media-friendly faces – young, black, female – to show the country the Conservatives have changed.
Talking about change and the Labour Government, Mr Cameron said: “When you’ve taken the wrong road, you have to change direction.” That is a sentiment with which John McDonnell, Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington and chair of the Left Economic Advisory Panel, would agree. But he is urging the Prime Minister to move forward on a socialist, rather than a capitalist, platform.
He said: “The root cause of this crisis is the Government’s policy of allowing the housing market for more than a decade to be used for profiteering speculation rather than to provide homes. The resulting crisis of confidence in the financial institutions has created a self-fulfilling crisis of liquidity.
“Gordon Brown must take decisive action before it is too late. I am calling on him to bring the home loans industry under public ownership and control and override the Bank of England advisory committee to cut interest rates decisively.”
