Paul Nowak, the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), has expressed his anger at the state of the Labour Party and Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government, warning that significant change is needed to prevent Reform UK from gaining power.
Nowak's Intervention Amid Leadership Tensions
In his first major intervention during the ongoing battle over Labour's leadership, Nowak acknowledged an 'overwhelming sense of frustration' with Starmer. This follows a statement from Labour-affiliated trade unions last week calling for the prime minister to step down before the next election.
'They don't think he could lead Labour into the next election. I'm not going to cut across where our Labour unions are at, but whoever is in No 10, they've got to show working-class people that they are on their side,' Nowak said.
He added: 'I think what you got from that statement was that overwhelming sense of frustration, 22 months out from that landslide election victory, which Labour won on the basis of a manifesto that had one word on the cover: 'Change'. For a lot of people there hasn't been any real change. They certainly haven't felt it in their pockets. I get that sense of frustration, 100%.'
Election Results and Public Sentiment
Nowak described the results of the 7 May elections as 'devastating' for Labour, indicating that the country is on course for a Reform government unless radical change occurs. However, he stressed that there is still time for the party to recover before the next general election, urging Labour not to be 'fatalistic'.
Post-election TUC polling revealed that fewer than one in five people believe they are becoming better off, while nearly half (46%) think their personal finances are worsening. The cost of living was the top issue for 65% of people, almost double the proportion who cited immigration.
Frustration with Government Communication
Nowak, whose union body had been a strong supporter of the Starmer government, admitted the polling makes him 'angry, to be honest with you'. He criticised the government for not shouting louder about its achievements and for 'self-inflicted mistakes like the Mandelson scandal and winter fuel payments'.
'It makes me angry that we are having to have this debate at a time when people are crying out for politicians to actually pony up and deliver real change,' he said.
Call for Robust Action
The TUC leader urged the government to be more robust in defending the new Employment Rights Act, take further action on wealth taxes, and clean up politics with new restrictions on donations. 'Show whose side you're on and be vocal about whose side you're on. Because at the moment, far too many people think that Nigel Farage is on their side,' he added.
Andy Burnham's Potential Return
Nowak expressed interest in seeing Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham return to parliament by winning the Makerfield byelection, though he cautioned that any new prime minister would face significant challenges to prove Labour can deliver for working people.
'Andy is clearly a talented politician and one that has managed in Manchester to prove that he can deliver but he can tap into issues that matter to working-class people,' Nowak said. 'There's no guarantee he's going to win that byelection, but it would send a very clear message, I think.'
Economic Agenda and Fiscal Rules
Nowak called for a debate on whether Labour's economic agenda is too constrained by fiscal rules and the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), which he described as 'a tool of Tory austerity'. He argued that any leader 'should be focused on what the outcomes are rather than necessarily sticking rigidly to rules set at a very different time'.
He also supported greater public control of services, saying: 'This is about being prepared to pick a fight with vested interests. It is bonkers that we ever got to a stage where our water industry was privatised. I think we're the only country in the developed world that privatised water.'
EU Relations and Rejoining
While the TUC has pushed for a deeper relationship with the EU, including a customs union, Nowak ruled out opening the door to rejoining. 'I don't think that's where the British public is at, at the moment, or that's where our members are at,' he said. 'I don't think it's a useful debate to have … because it would just be used by the right to cause even more division.'
Optimism for Labour's Future
Despite his criticisms, Nowak expressed confidence that Labour can win the next election. 'There's a hell of a lot to play for – most importantly, if you're interested in improving the lives of working people. I actually think that the vast majority of people in this country are decent and they're fair-minded and they are better than Nigel Farage.'
