Britain’s biggest trade union leaders have joined forces to urge Keir Starmer to tackle the climate and nature crises, delivering a letter to 10 Downing Street alongside MPs including Stroud MP Simon Opher, ahead of next week’s Spending Review.
In a letter delivered to Downing Street, representatives of 24 trade unions say the Prime Minister must set out a plan to “protect livelihoods, create decent work, and deliver a just transition”.
Those supporting the letter include the leaders of the Public and Commercial Services Union, Fire Brigades’ Union, British Medical Association, Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association and the University and College Union.
Among those backing the calls was Labour MP Clive Lewis who said if next week’s spending review fails to properly address the climate and nature crises it would be “short-sighted” of the Government and risks becoming “something future generations will never forgive us for”—he urges them to “do the right thing”.
Union chiefs were joined outside No 10 by Labour MPs Olivia Blake, Simon Opher, Richard Burgon and Ian Byrne. The Liberal Democrats’ Roz Savage and Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer also accompanied the delegation.
Local MP Simon Opher is a supporter of the Climate and Nature Bill, which received strong support locally.
They warn the UK risks facing increasingly extreme working conditions, due to rising temperatures and flooding and argue “environmental justice and economic justice are inseparable”.
The letter also calls on Starmer to help reskill workers employed in the fossil fuel industry, urging the Government to put workers at the forefront of our transition to net zero.
The signatories have called for ministers to bring back the Climate and Nature Bill to have its debate continued in this Parliamentary session, alongside a cross-government approach to better engage with the Bill’s supporters.
These include measures to require the Government to set out measurable progress for workers and communities in the newly promised annual climate and nature statements.
The private members’ bill was effectively put on pause by government whips back in January but received record support across the Commons, including almost 90 Labour MPs.
