TUC

13% energy price hike makes ‘workers pay for Trump’s war’

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/13-energy-price-hike-makes-workers-pay-trumps-war

 Go further, faster: Paul Nowak

HOUSEHOLDS must not bear the brunt of US President Donald Trump’s illegal war, campaigners warned today, as energy bills are set to rise by 13 per cent.  

Ofgem’s new price cap from July 1 will see the typical household face an annual energy cost of £1,862 — up £221 on current levels, or £18 a month. 

The regulator said higher wholesale gas prices, “driven by ongoing conflict in the Middle East,” were behind the increase. 

Energy costs have soared since the US and Israel began their war on Iran and the subsequent blocking of the Strait of Hormuz.

Calls have mounted for the government to set out action to support the most vulnerable with bills, but Chancellor Rachel Reeves has refused any immediate energy measures in her cost-of-living plan. 

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said the government must “go further and faster to protect households from punishing energy price rises in the coming months.”

“Households must not bear the brunt of costs from Trump’s illegal war,” he said.

“Painful energy price rises are coming down the track — and working people are already feeling the pinch with fuel costs rising because of Trumpflation.

…

Eva Watkinson of Debt Justice called it a “scandal” that the cap was rising while energy companies continued to post enormous profits, saying the government must “immediately act to write off debts that have built up during the cost-of-living crisis.”

Green MP Hannah Spencer demanded immediate government intervention, telling Ms Reeves to freeze the cap before bills go up. 

“And if she’s wondering how to pay for it, there are some people doing very well out of this crisis,” she said. 

“The government should start by taxing 100 per cent of the huge windfall profits oil and gas giants have made since the start of the illegal war on Iran.”

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/13-energy-price-hike-makes-workers-pay-trumps-war

Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel's genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism "without qualification". Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism “without qualification”. Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Continue Reading13% energy price hike makes ‘workers pay for Trump’s war’

Unemployment unexpectedly rises with one in six young people out of work

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/unemployment-unexpectedly-rises-one-six-young-people-out-work

 A Job Centre Plus shop in central Portsmouth, Hampshire

THE government must cut interest rates and invest in youth as new unemployment data shows one in six young people are jobless, unions and experts warn.

Unemployment unexpectedly rose to a near five-year high with young and disabled Britons hardest hit by the shock data published by the Office for National Statistics today.

Outside of the coronavirus pandemic, this marks the highest three-month reading since the autumn of 2015.

The TUC called on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to boost spending and support fragile jobs, pointing to the record level of precarious zero-hour contracts reaching 1.2 million.

Its general secretary Paul Nowak said the job market will only get better once the economy starts to recover after the ONS said the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 per cent to 5.2 per cent into the last quarter.

It also found that employment was unchanged at 75.0 per cent and inactivity is down 0.2 to 21.0 per cent.

…

Original article continues at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/unemployment-unexpectedly-rises-one-six-young-people-out-work

Continue ReadingUnemployment unexpectedly rises with one in six young people out of work

Chancellor must scrap the two-child cap ‘in full’, TUC warns

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https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/article/chancellor-must-scrap-two-child-cap-full-tuc-warns

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves speaks to the media about the October inflation statistics from the Office of National Statistics, during a visit to a Tesco supermarket in Earl’s Court, west London, November 19, 2025

CHANCELLOR Rachel Reeves must scrap the two-child cap “in full” at the Budget as seven in 10 of the 4.5 million children living in poverty in Britain have at least one working parent, the TUC has warned.

The union body called on Labour to ditch Tory cruelty on Wednesday, with its analysis published today revealing that working people are just £12 a week better off in real terms than they were when the financial crisis hit in 2008.

Public service workers, meanwhile, are no better off compared to 2008, with real pay the same.

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said the Chancellor must tackle the child poverty emergency by delivering a “living standards Budget.”

He said: “Households up and down the country are still suffering a painful Tory pay hangover — leaving this Labour government with lots of ground to make up.

“That’s why Wednesday is a crucial moment to show ministers are on the side of working people by making affordability a top priority.

“That means a clear plan to bring down energy bills for households. It means action to make work pay by showing ambition on the minimum wage. 

“And it means tackling the child poverty emergency by scrapping the two-child benefit cap in full.”

Polling by the TUC also reveals 83 per cent of the public believe no child should be living in poverty in Britain.

…

Article continues at https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/article/chancellor-must-scrap-two-child-cap-full-tuc-warns

Keir Starmer confirms that he's proud to be a red Tory continuing austerity and targeting poor and disabled scum.
Keir Starmer confirms that he’s proud to be a red Tory continuing austerity and targeting poor and disabled scum.
Keir Starmer says pensioners can freeze to death and poor children can starve and be condemned to failure and misery all their lives.
Keir Starmer says pensioners can freeze to death and poor children can starve and be condemned to failure and misery all their lives.
Continue ReadingChancellor must scrap the two-child cap ‘in full’, TUC warns

‘It’s time for a grown-up conversation about taxing wealth’

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/its-time-grown-conversation-about-taxing-wealth

 model houses on a pile of coins and bank notes

TUC hits back at banking boss who suggested public-sector pay should be curbed because the economy falling

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TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said that while the government has “taken the right approach” by investing in public services and infrastructure, “the job of securing growth is far from over — and more support is needed to see that investment sustained in the long term.”

“That’s why it’s time for a grown-up conversation about taxing wealth and financial institutions,” he said.

“It’s only right that banks, gambling companies and the wealthiest in our society contribute their fair share to fund our schools, hospitals and local authorities.

“The government needs to ensure it can repair and rebuild our vital public services along with wider critical national infrastructure.”

Mr Nowak also called on the Bank of England to further Bank of England to “ease the pressure on household budgets and to make it more affordable for businesses to invest.”

…

Ooriginal article at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/its-time-grown-conversation-about-taxing-wealth

Continue Reading‘It’s time for a grown-up conversation about taxing wealth’

Morning Star Editorial: TUC Congress is right to reject arms spending surge

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 F35 fighters on the flight deck of HMS Prince of Wales, the Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier, in Plymouth, Devon, ahead of an eight-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific region on Operation Highmast, April 24, 2025

THE TUC did the right thing in voting to prioritise wages and welfare over warfare, reversing its 2022 decision to campaign for an increase in military spending.

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The British state — whether under a Labour, Tory or Reform government — cannot be trusted with the weapons it has, never mind still more. 

They are simply instruments of an imperialist policy which has brought immense suffering to the peoples of the world and threatens still worse, including conflicts which will exact a heavy price from the British people themselves.

These are the truths the labour movement needs to be enunciating loud and clear. It is a fantasy to imagine that government’s imposing austerity and authoritarianism at home are somehow acting in an elusive “national interest” abroad.

…

Original article at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/tuc-congress-right-reject-arms-spending-surge

Continue ReadingMorning Star Editorial: TUC Congress is right to reject arms spending surge