* Pace of change hasn't been fast enough

Responding to the prime minister's speech today (Monday), UNISON general secretary Andrea Egan said:

"Keir Starmer is right to recognise the pace of change hasn't been fast enough. But there was little in his speech suggesting he understands the magnitude of the transformation required.

"There were plenty of warm words, with precious little on the fundamentals of how to fix things.

"Nationalising British Steel makes sense, and yet there was no mention of how ministers plan to end the scourge of outsourcing in public services.

"Proposals to improve communities sound good, but there was nothing on dealing with the chronic underfunding of local councils.

"Talking up the diversity of the country rings hollow when set against government plans to make it much harder for migrant workers to settle in the UK.

"A radical change of approach is needed. Only a Labour government which unashamedly puts the interests of workers before the wealthy can succeed."

Notes to editors:

- UNISON is the UK's largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:

Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

Dan Ashley M: 07508 080349 E: d.ashley@unison.co.uk