On 14 August, with no votes against, Pavilion Labour’s GC adopted the resolution below dealing with some aspects of great concern regarding the failings of the Tory Government in its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic from spring and summer 2020 on.
COVID PANDEMIC
Brighton Pavilion CLP notes the catastrophic impact of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, and calls upon the Labour leadership to complete a comprehensive analysis of the underlying structural problems in the UK economy, as well as numerous mistakes made by the Tory government in response to the crisis. This analysis should be undertaken as a detailed report, in conjunction with our trade union partners, which would then form the basis of a coherent policy response. The report should cover (amongst other things);
Systemic weaknesses in the UK, such as:
• Under-funding of the NHS over many years;
• The unsustainable and fragmented system of privately-provided social care, and the extent to which a ‘National Care Service’ would of allowed a more coherent response to the Covid crisis in care homes;
• The failure of the current system of private outsourcing, as evidenced by the disastrous roll-out of ‘track-and-trace’, but also seen in many other areas over the last decade;
• The cosy relationship this engenders between government and private companies, which would be considered ‘corruption’ in most other countries;
• The fragile and temporary nature of many jobs in the UK economy and statutory sick pay that does not cover the cost of living, which has often forced people to continue working when it has been unsafe to do so. This has hit the lowest paid workers hardest.
• The inadequate levels of high-speed broadband in the UK, which is impacting families trying to work and provide schooling at home, and the benefits that would accrue from publicly-funded free broadband provision;
• The lack of trust that government has in trade unions with deep knowledge of their own environment, as evidenced by catastrophic decisions to ignore the advice of the National Education Union, UNISON, FBU, GMB and other trades unions;
• The fragmented, costly and illogical system of franchised railway services, which has again been exposed by the crisis, noting that the Labour government in Wales has already moved to nationalise all elements of railway in response;
• The structural weaknesses in the UK’s industrial capacity, resulting in an inability to quickly produce PPE, as well as medical equipment and vaccines;
• The lack of fair recognition of the role of ordinary workers, who are now rightly recognised as ‘Key Workers’, and who deserve fair better pay;
• The culture of expecting unpaid volunteers to pick up the pieces within crucial areas such as education and healthcare
Mistakes made by the Tory government, such as:
• The complacent and slow response when the crisis emerged, including the Prime Minister missing key COBRA meetings;
• The delayed and inconsistent initial ‘lockdown’;
• The awful decision to not protect care homes at the beginning of the crisis;
• The lack of PPE provision for front-line workers;
• The slow roll-out of testing;
• The incoherent travel policy, which has allowed hundreds of thousands of people to travel to or from the country for almost a year into the crisis without testing, or enforcement of quarantining;
• The failed roll out of ‘track-and-trace’ and the weaknesses of the NHS app;
• The disastrous decision to encourage a ‘return to normal’ over the summer of 2020, including the Chancellor Rishi Sunak posing for photos in restaurants to promote dining out, and the prime minister imploring us to return to work, despite warnings this would lead to a ‘second spike’.
• Dangerously conflicting and inconsistent messaging throughout, leading to rule-breaking, confusion and uncertainty
We believe that the task of forming a comprehensive analysis and coherent response is urgent, and cannot wait for a future general election. We ask that this motion is sent to Leader of the Opposition Kier Starmer, The Shadow Chancellor, The Shadow Health Secretary, The Shadow Education Secretary (copying Brighton and Hove MPs Lloyd Russell-Moyle and Peter Kyle), with a clear request for a response to our proposals.
Proposed by St Peter’s and North Laine Branch
Agreed nem con by Brighton Pavilion CLP’s General Committee
14 August 2021
Brighton Pavilion Labour Party 