keir starmer— unite, sharon graham. keir starmer delivered - unite, sharon graham.aham. ifle: " starmer delivered his speech, and he covered a fair bit of ground, a bit of new policy, and a lot about tone, talking about national renewal and the trade—offs that would have to come. to get reaction we can talk to sharon graham, the general secretary of the unite union. thanks forjoining us. you have raised concerns about the economic and policy direction of the labour party, the labour government, i should say, so what did you think of his speech? it say, so what did you think of his speech?— say, so what did you think of his speech?— his speech? it was a historic moment. — his speech? it was a historic moment, because _ his speech? it was a historic moment, because 15 - his speech? it was a historic moment, because 15 years | his speech? it was a historic- moment, because 15 years since a labour— moment, because 15 years since a labour prime minister addressed the labour conference and he _ addressed the labour conference and he said some good things about— and he sai

sharon graham, the head of unite union!te, with sharon's team, with the gmp, with sharon's team, with the gmp, with the unions to make sure we are delivering the green jobs of the future. let me give you some examples. we know we need engineers and welders, electricians, we know we can be global leaders on hydrogen, carbon capture, floating offshore wind. we know there are companies who want to invest in this country right now and deliver those projects but there are barriers to them doing it. they don't see stability in the economy or have the right incentives to come here, so by setting up the national wealth fund, great british energy, the british jobs bonus, we will incentivise businesses and industry to invest in those green energies that will deliverjobs and the future. deliver “obs and the future. that makes deliverjobs and the future. that makes sense, _ deliverjobs and the future. that makes sense, jobs _ deliverjobs and the future. that makes sense, jobs in _ deliverjobs and the future. that makes sense, jobs in t

sharon graham from unite said it — well and good...enough idea in the budget that really starts to -et in the budget that really starts to get peoples lives better, people feeling — get peoples lives better, people feeling better in a couple of years, it becomes — feeling better in a couple of years, it becomes an impossible task. gn it becomes an impossible task. on that it becomes an impossible task. that point, it becomes an impossible task. q�*i that point, how patient do you think people are going to have to be? i kept saying to cabinet ministers after the speech, when, when questioned that it depends what your talk about, breakfast clubs in april, the hills below before april, people will have to be patient, aren't they?— people will have to be patient, aren't the ? ., �* aren't they? people aren't patient because they'd — aren't they? people aren't patient because they'd gone _ aren't they? people aren't patient because they'd gone through - aren't they? people aren't patient because they'd gone through 14 l because they'd gone

mark two whilst it's a step in the right direction, unite union's general secretary sharon graham toldhe vote should have happened sooner. >> well, look , i think this vote >> well, look, i think this vote should have happened on tuesday. i mean, the vote was down under the economy debate on tuesday and i think it is disrespectful to the issue that we weren't heanng to the issue that we weren't hearing that vote earlier on under the economy debate. look, the reality here is that they're going to have to reverse this allowance in terms of putting it back into the pockets of pensioners, and we're asking them to do that. i disagree with what the prime minister is saying on this. i'm really glad we've got a labour government. i think britain is better off with a labour government. but on this issue it is a huge misstep and he needs to change what he has done. and i think the country out there is not really what happensin out there is not really what happens in this hall that's important. it's what's happening there in the real world. they are furious about it. >> the health secretary has t

and sharon graham, leader of unite, one of the biggest unions — also from irish parents. disadvantaged ? it does, and also, other people. i always thought it was best bringing everybody up, and not leaving anybody behind. and, you know, it isn�*tjust about how you move on. it�*s how you bring future generations on. now, you say your dad cared passionately about education, got you to a good school. you aimed to go to university, but you couldn�*t. unfortunately, dad had fell off a scaffold and broke his back. i went to my mum and said, "i�*ll take a year out." i�*ll be quite honest, i didn�*t actually know what a year out was. it was a phrase that i�*d heard. yeah, you didn�*t mean a gap year? i didn�*t mean a gap year, and i didn�*t mean whatever else because... and my mother, being irish, said, "look, if you�*re not going to school, you�*re going to work." back then, there were only four banks — barclays, lloyds, midland, natwest. so i applied for all four, turned up at barclays, and had this interview — and the most interesting interview i�*ve ever had, he said, do you

. >> this is sharon graham. she's the general secretary of the unite union. the most powerful trade unionist in britain. it's her motion and it's going to be carried. sharon, are you disappointed that the prime minister. hello. are you disappointed the prime minister's not here for the vote. he's gone to new york. he's not even. not only is he not in the conference hall, he's not in the conference hall, he's not even in the country. >> well, look, i think this vote should have happened on tuesday. i mean, the vote was down under the economy debate on tuesday, and i think it is disrespectful to the issue that we weren't heanng to the issue that we weren't hearing that vote earlier on under the economy debate. look, the reality here is that they're going to have to reverse this allowance in terms of putting it back into the pockets of pensioners, and we're asking them to do that. >> and he's mentioned it once in a 50 minute speech yesterday. >> yeah, i mean, look, i disagree with what the prime minister is saying on this. i'm really glad we've got a labour gover

you have had sharon graham on your show earlier, they was brewing in the hole this morning when the unite union resolution on winter fuel was punted off completely to wednesday, when rachel reeves was giving her speech, this afternoon, talking about how they are ending the industrial strife in the public sector, while she was speaking, while she was saying those words the rcn announced hang on out, they will have another strike. so i don't think they have put the unions to bed at all and the unions don't feel like they have been put to bed and that has mixed ambition. d0 been put to bed and that has mixed ambition. , ., ., been put to bed and that has mixed ambition. ,, ., , , ., ambition. do you need to be put to bed? it is getting _ ambition. do you need to be put to bed? it is getting late. _ ambition. do you need to be put to bed? it is getting late. no, - ambition. do you need to be put to bed? it is getting late. no, i- ambition. do you need to be put to bed? it is getting late. no, ithinkl bed? it is getting late. no, ithink what you're _ bed? it is getting late. no, ithink what yo

unite's general secretary, sharon graham, told gb news she was disappointed the move was.ed to the very end of conference. >> well, look, i think this vote should have happened on tuesday. i mean, the vote was down under the economy debate on tuesday and i think it is disrespectful to the issue that we weren't heanng to the issue that we weren't hearing that vote earlier on under the economy debate. look, the reality here is that they're going to have to reverse this allowance in terms of putting it back into the pockets of pensioners, and we're asking them to do that. i disagree with what the prime minister is saying on this. i'm really glad we've got a labour government. i think britain is better off with a labour government, but on this issue it is a huge misstep and he needs to change what he has done. and i think the country out there is not really what happensin out there is not really what happens in this hall that's important. it's what's happening there in the real world. they are furious about it. >> well, meanwhile, the health secretary has told the conference o

sharon graham has accused the government of "picking the pockets of pensioners" while leaving the richesttouched." tonight, the chancellor rachel reeves has been meeting labour backbenchers to try to secure their support for the government's plan. our political editor, chris mason says the prime minister now needs to work out how he will treat any rebellion. you may remember a couple of months back now when there was a vote about the two child benefit cap. there was half a dozen or so labour mps who defied the government, wanted to get rid of it. labour say it's unaffordable to get rid of, and they were slung out of the parliamentary party, at least for six months. but that was an idea that had been talked about in advance, whereas this one has come, relatively speaking, out of the blue since the election. now, we should be clear. let's put the parliamentary shenanigans to one side for a moment. labour, the government is going to win this vote. how do we know that? they have got a majority that is himalayan in proportion. so millions of people are going to lose their winter fuel payment.

henry, the unions are meeting this week with the tuc and we have heard from sharon graham, the general criticising this decision, calling for a u—turn which i guess is not expected, how much sway and how damaging is it to have unite voicing that criticism, given they are no longer so closely aligned with the labour party anyway? you are right that unite very much come from the left wing of british politics, but also even union politics, and that is also true for the other trade union which has voiced severe dissatisfaction with this, the pcs union, the public sector union. however, it appears that over this trades union congress conference, other unions, unions which have previously been a bit more supportive of keir starmer�*s leadership, unions like unison, the gmb, they also are not going to want to be associated with this decision that keir starmer has made, and that again was the message that you heard earlier today when paul novak, the general secretary of the tuc, spoke to us. we are going to be debating that issue this week at congress, i think it is very likely our unions will

the general secretary of unite sharon graham telling the bbc it was a decision keir starmer should reverseere, we will hear from rachel reeves tomorrow. it will be about the choices labour makes when it comes to the economy, because they say getting it growing is essential to them. and how it will affect individuals who had such a tough time with the cost of living. the winter fuel payment is one of the tangible issues which has some traction at the labour conference, and much more widely. labour conference, and much more widely-— labour conference, and much more widely. before we let you no to more widely. before we let you go to report — more widely. before we let you go to report on _ more widely. before we let you go to report on the _ more widely. before we let you j go to report on the conference, sir keir starmer, he said he would take some action against the leaks. ~ ., would take some action against the leaks. ~ . , . the leaks. what did he say? we had the leaks _ the leaks. what did he say? we had the leaks and _ the leaks. what did he say? we had the leaks and the _ the leaks. w

the boss of that union sharon graham told the bbc last night that if keir starmer hadn't a u—turn overo longeraccepted, he over close, saying he would no longer accepted, he could do a u—turn over winter fuel payment. i think this is about the economic choices the government is facing. i'm keeping half a night on a feed i have on what is happening on the conference floor because we are expecting to hear from angela rayner any moment for what will be the first set piece speech of this conference. 0ver piece speech of this conference. over the next few days we will hear from a lot of the cabinet. tomorrow the focus is on the economy with the chancellor rachel reeves, and the big speech from keir starmer follows on tuesday. returning to some of the key themes, the economy will be one of them. there's been some criticism of the government for sounding too gloomy on the economy. their argument is they want to be upfront, realistic about the choice is coming down the line. i do think what we might year as the line. i do think what we might yearas a the line. i do think what we might year as

the leader of unite sharon graham accused him of making everyday people pay while the wealthiest don'tly insisted that they had to make this saving in this financial year, but that was why the decision had to to be taken but they will be looking to change that narrative when it comes to the budget in five weeks' time when keir starmer has said that those with the broadest shoulders should bear the heaviest burden. the question for many is whether their actions will match those words.— many is whether their actions will match those words. hannah, thank ou. the time is 6:20. our top story this evening... israel launches hundreds more air strikes against hezbollah today, as the head of the army tells troops to be ready for a possible ground invasion into lebanon. still to come, so alan bates received his knighthood for services to justice. coming up on sportsday on bbc news... after a historic win on sunday, the roses couldn't repeat the feat today losing the deciding game of their series against world and commonwealth champions australia. we speak to the england head coach. almost 200 wo

will it raise as much as you and sharon graham, as much as you think?es it has been tried brings in less because wealthy people move around. you brings in less because wealthy people move around. you have to make sure _ people move around. you have to make sure the _ people move around. you have to make sure the wealthy _ people move around. you have to make sure the wealthy people - make sure the wealthy people pay their— make sure the wealthy people pay their share. we have to pay tax, _ pay their share. we have to pay tax. we — pay their share. we have to pay tax, we get no tax, the government sets the rate, we paid _ government sets the rate, we paid national insurance. it should _ paid national insurance. it should be the default position of the — should be the default position of the rich. there are taxes on capital— of the rich. there are taxes on capital gains, property and stored _ capital gains, property and stored wealth, and earned wealth. _ stored wealth, and earned wealth, if you want. an astute government can make sure they -et government

government to introduce a wealth tax instead — on the richest one percent of people in the uk — here's sharon grahamadio. on the wealth tax itself we are talking — on the wealth tax itself we are talking about the top 1% so those — talking about the top 1% so those people that earn over £4 million — those people that earn over £4 million so _ those people that earn over £4 million so not concluding mortgages or anything else, £4 million — mortgages or anything else, £4 million clear, and anything over— million clear, and anything over £4— million clear, and anything over £4 million they would be taxed — over £4 million they would be taxed i% _ over £4 million they would be taxed 1% on. that would bring in taxed1% on. that would bring in £25— taxed 1% on. that would bring in £25 billion.— in £25 billion. where is the evidence — in £25 billion. where is the evidence it _ in £25 billion. where is the evidence it would - in £25 billion. where is the evidence it would bring - in £25 billion. where is the evidence it would bring in l in £25 billion. where is the i evidence it would bring in £25 billion? c

i spoke to sharon graham not long after his speech and she wasn't pleased with the fact that he wasn'telves, what really matters is whether this labour party can deliver in government.— labour party can deliver in government. alex forsyth in liverpool. — government. alex forsyth in liverpool, thank _ government. alex forsyth in liverpool, thank you - government. alex forsyth in liverpool, thank you very - government. alex forsyth in - liverpool, thank you very much. in just liverpool, thank you very much. injust a moment liverpool, thank you very much. in just a moment we will be live in new york with the latest afterjoe biden gives that final address to that un general assembly. that final address to that un generalassembly. sumi general assembly. sumi somaskanda is generalassembly. sumi somaskanda is there, we're live with her in a moment. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. you're watching bbc news. at the un general assembly, joe biden made his final speech as president. he spoke about the rising escalation in the middle east, calling for the un to take action. su

sharon graham has accused the government of "picking the pockets of pensioners", while leaving the richestlor, rachel reeves, is meeting labour backbenchers to try to secure their support for the government's plan. our political editor, chris mason, is in westminster. chris, what's your sense of how the prime minister will treat any rebellion? yes, that is what he has to try and work out. you might remember a couple of months back when there was a vote about the two child benefit cap. there were half a dozen or so labour mps who defied the government wanted to get rid of it, labour say it is unaffordable to get rid of. and they were slung out of the parliamentary party at least for six months. but that was an idea that had been talked about in advance, whereas this has come relatively speaking out of the blue since the election. now, we should be clear, let's put the parliamentary shenanigans to one side for a moment. labour, the government is going to win this vote. how do we know that? they have a majority that is himalayan in proportion. so millions of people are going to lose their win

interviews before the conference, he didn't call on starmer and reeves to do a u—turn, whereas sharon grahamdid so. there is a difference. there is a nuance, i think, to a certain extent the trade union movement has always been the conscience, if you like, of the labour party , and like, of the labour party, and there is no doubt that they will be putting pressure on a labour government to do things. but don't forget a lot of these people are the people who were being clapped on thursday nights dunng being clapped on thursday nights during covid because they were key workers, they were shop workers, they were nurses, they were hospital porters, they were transport workers. >> so i don't have an issue with the unions in themselves . okay, the unions in themselves. okay, but what i was interested in that speech was he had a direct p0p that speech was he had a direct pop at you, which is which i love, but i don't. and of course you do. of course. and you've got big shoulders. don't play me. no no no no, no. but it wasn't remotely it was a very political. >> that's the point. >> that's the point

unite will protest at conference in liverpool in a bid to force a to vote scrap what union boss sharon graham to return to austerity as labour faces winter fuel revolt . metro faces winter fuel revolt. metro sleaze row overshadows starmer's victory parade. red flags at labour conference. that's quite a good headline, isn't it? i think you'll agree. now rayner defends herself as freebies anger keeps growing. and last but not least, for now, daily star trump mars colony the future is orange. make me president and i'll sort it with musk. it'll be one small step for a man baby, another leap for mankind . donald trump says he'll mankind. donald trump says he'll colonise mars with musk if he becomes president . becomes president. >> i love the star. >> i love the star. >> the first to buy my tickets to relocate to another planet. because things are quite challenging here, aren't they? but luckily on the planet, we do have my top pundits this evening linda jubilee, sir michael fabricant, no less, and doctor lisa mckenzie. lots of stories to sink our teeth into. and let's have a look at this one in t

in fact, on stage right now as i'm speaking, is sharon graham, the general secretary of unite, one ofpockets of pensioners and calling for a wealth tax on the top 1%. furious about this, obviously, the prime minister is here tomorrow to deliver his own speech at the same time or on the same day as his mps vote against or vote in favour. rather vote for scrapping the winter fuel allowance. so it's not the rosy day that you would expect here at the conference, given this is the first tuc congress in 15 years since a labour government. so a slightly tense mood here, guys. >> yeah, it's interesting to hear from some of those delegates about rachel reeves, not much support for her and not much love for her, which is quite interesting. and i have a theory that perhaps keir starmer delivered that very miserable speech in the rose garden in order to perhaps protect rachel reeves a little bit, because she's going to be the one that delivers the really bad news in the budget for a lot of people. so if keir starmer sort of, you know, says that everything's going to be terrible, then rachel might

that the fact that his own party is totally against him on this, the fact that the union baron sharon grahamuntry, she just said real leaders are about people who know they've made the wrong decision and they have the guts to put it right. and that's really important because he's not doing that. and the reason he can't do it is rachel reeves, because i will bet she is telling him he can't backtrack because it makes her look foolish and heartless and callous. if he says that one of her policies is no good and u—turn so he won't you. >> it's interesting. this. so this has just landed in the last few minutes. all right. i'm going to bring this to you now. apparently, chancellor rachel reeves received quotes, prolonged clapping and cheering from labour mps after their meeting earlier on the winter fuel payment cuts . i'm keen to fuel payment cuts. i'm keen to see what reaction she gets on the doorstep the next time she meets pensioners. but benjamin, a report that was conducted by the labour party itself saying that nearly 4000 elderly people could die if the winter fuel payment is cut and keir

and the union you're talking about is unite, sharon graham is the general secretary.id not sign off the unite union. one of the biggest top three donors of the party did not sign off on the manifesto. they are very, very concerned about this this winter fuel payment. i was talking last night to somebody very close to the national executive committee of the labour party, and they were saying to me how this issue issue has been red flagged to the nec. it hasn't yet been raised. the nec, which is the body which we knew a lot about dunng body which we knew a lot about during the corbyn years, they are overseeing the whole party on behalf of members and unions and the like and mps, and they have red flagged this issue of this removal of this benefit. but they're worried that they step in now. it's too soon. ten, ten weeks into to a five year government. it might might make them the centre of, of this kind of opposition to keir starmer before this government's got going. so it's a big issue. and that's why i think we're hearing it from unite. there'll be a vote later. again

and sharon graham from the unite trade union said this government is pickpocketing the pockets of pensionersthe case. look i support delivering on the manifesto, which is a stable economy and setting the conditions for growth, and that's really important. that's what we are voted to deliver and that's what we will deliver. >> okay. that's mike tap. he is the labour mp for dover. and deal your first conference as an mp. are you enjoying it? >> i am absolutely loving it so far. yeah yeah. thank you. and you're enjoying liverpool? i love liverpool. >> did you bring an umbrella? >> did you bring an umbrella? >> i did, yeah so did i. >> i did, yeah so did i. >> it's not working. i've been drown. so we've got we've got coming up. we're talking to a general secretary of the national education union. the teacher's biggest union, talking to him later. and my old sparring partner kevin maguire is coming on, too. plenty more coming up on britain's newsroom on gb news. i'm here in the labour party conference. lucky old me. i'd do the tory conference next week too . and conference next week too. and bev,

well, sharon graham and unite seem to be the most vocal. that's the most powerful union they were. was general secretary, they backed jeremy corbyn and labour and they, they didn't endorse the labour manifesto. that's right. so it's whenever you hear oh your labour's paymasters, the trade unions, it's not it's far more complex than that. >> sew sew sew sew sew sew. she'll be sat down when, when the standing ovation she'll stand up and give him, give him a standing looking at her. we'll be looking out for sharon because she. she's the most powerful female trade union leader in the country. >> unless somebody can put an electric charge in a chair. so she can jump up many things, many things, many resources, i think it would be assault actually, to do that. >> i bet it is kevin maguire, my grumpy friend from the daily mail that is chris hope chris gunter of gb news. i'm andrew pierce here. we've got keir starmer speech. we'll be bringing you live. i bet you can't wait. but first we're going to go to the grumpy weather for a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on gb. >

this , they're doing that this this, they're doing this to pensioners, as your union colleague sharon grahamom unite said, picking the pockets of pensioners at a time when we learned that the chancellor of the exchequer had 7500 pounds of free clothes, the prime minister had £17,000 of free clothes from a very wealthy donor called lord alli. the prime minister's wife had 5000. it's a very bad look, isn't it? >> well, it's a it's a contradiction , isn't it? i think contradiction, isn't it? i think the problem again, you know, let's not forget that the previous government now we're talking about this government. >> yeah, i know they were coming in to do things. >> they were doing. they were doing that. >> they said they they said they were going to do things differently. >> let me let me finish. what i'm saying is, is that i think it's naive, right. you know, they'll defend it from the point of view that they've not broken any of the rules, and that they declared it, which some of the previous government people didn't. and, but i don't think it's right. and, you know, they've got to change the

and their general secretary, sharon graham, has been very outspoken and about pushing this vote backhave tried to silence the voice of pensioners, workers and communities and that they've made blatant manoeuvres to block debate over winter fuel cuts. she goes on to say when this is widely known, that there will be real anger among everyday people , real anger among everyday people, real anger among everyday people, real anger. so the unions, of course , normally broadly catherine for star much indeed. catherine for star political correspondent there at the labour party conference, stick with us. we've got a huge amount coming up. but the home office, the home office has confirmed that 25,000 small boat migrants have crossed the channel so far this year, half of them in the 11 weeks since labour took power. now this weekend alone, more than 1400 small boat migrants arrived in doven small boat migrants arrived in dover. a huge number. and to discuss this, i am joined by gb news home and security editor , news home and security editor, mark white, to talk us through the figures. a huge

i've talked to sharon graham, who leads the unite union.ous about this winter fuel payment being removed in november. as our viewers and listeners are, martin, as as you well know. and i wonder whether, despite all that rhetoric, it could be a problem here for this labour government. >> but i wonder if the we're all in it together line. chris tallies with the idea that keir starmer's getting 20 grand's worth of free suits, his missus getting five grand's worth of free frocks. people are still talking about those freebies. that discrepancy between the people in power with their snouts and the trough pretty much the same as the tories and that's a world apart from those pensioners who yesterday were outside crying and screaming in the cold and the rain. chris hope that's right. >> i'm just checking on my phone here. martin, i have asked laboun here. martin, i have asked labour. i'm afraid i had to ask where did lady starmer get her dress and did she pay for it so far? no answer. i'll bring it to you when i get it. i know you're concerned. we

sharon graham, who's the head of the unite union, a massive donor, says it will show leadership. try and reverse this policy. >> keir starmer is not a whiff of hypocrisy about that, though. as you pointed out, 2017 the labour party's own report said 4000 pensioners could die. that winter, energy was much cheaper then. there are far more pensioners now than then, so presumably more than 4000 people could die this time round. and that's a decision they're taking willingly. the tuc are saying that we should reverse this. they've been campaigning for pay rises for all of their members. unite the teachers union, saying that sir keir starmer is picking the pockets of pensioners. they gave £10 billion to the teachers and the nhs workers . so your and the nhs workers. so your members, crucially, could get an inflation busting pay rise. they're part of the problem, martin. >> crucially, those who who can work can get pay rises. pensioners by their very nature being pensioners, are not working. they're stuck with a fixed income. later this week we'd like to see the increase in the state pe

sharon graham's point is you are pitting pensioners against workers and causing division already. 1 pensionersshing. we have inherited this really difficult. . .. pushing. we have inherited this really difficult... mar; pushing. we have inherited this really difficult. . . .— pushing. we have inherited this really difficult. . .. may not be the narrative but _ really difficult. . .. may not be the narrative but it _ really difficult. . .. may not be the narrative but it is _ really difficult. . .. may not be the narrative but it is what _ really difficult. . .. may not be the narrative but it is what is - narrative but it is what is happening. narrative but it is what is happening-— narrative but it is what is haueninr. ~ 1, narrative but it is what is haueninu. ~ 1, happening. what we inherited was much worse _ happening. what we inherited was much worse then, _ happening. what we inherited was much worse then, in _ happening. what we inherited was much worse then, in terms - happening. what we inherited was much worse then, in terms of- happening. what we inherited was much worse then, in te

so sharon graham, who is the general secretary of unite, one of the biggest unions in the country andur party, said that the government is picking the pockets of pensioners really strong language on the congress floor here. they're not happy about it at all. now, starmer himself didn't reference this in clear terms. it just made general references to unpopular decisions , basically the same decisions, basically the same sort of soundbites we've been heanng sort of soundbites we've been hearing since the campaign, even before the election. so the government knows this stuff is unpopular, but they're banking on, you know , the long the green on, you know, the long the green shoots of growth in a few years time and these unpopular decisions are forgotten or forgiven by then. but for now, yes, the unions are frustrated about this, and there will be a motion on it later today. but of course, it's too late now that it's going through, and the government will charge ahead regardless of what sort of fuss is kicked up here. >> interesting. okay, adam. cherry down in brighton. i'm not sure the