Press Release

Unite's reaction to Brown's help for mortgage payers

03/12/2008

Commenting on the government's announcement about getting banks to agree a freeze on repossessions for people made redundant or who face a big pay cut Unite's joint general secretary, Derek Simpson, said: "There is nothing more important than keeping a roof over our families' heads and Gordon Brown has shown that he understands this and is prepared to act.

"Gordon Brown has shown himself to be a man of action unlike David Cameron and his Tories, whose solution to the current crisis is to do nothing. If David Cameron were prime minister, there would be cuts in public spending, public servants would lose their jobs and vulnerable families would lose the support they desperately need."

Ahead of the pre-budget report, Unite the union presented Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling with ten key priorities - including a freeze on home repossessions as part of government action to spend its way out of the credit crunch and kick-start the faltering economy.

The submission entitled 'A new deal for the real economy' from the two million member strong union , called for a freeze on repossessions on homes, the introduction of a fair tax regime, an increase in public spending and support for manufacturing through procurement and investment. The submission also called for a new order of regulation in the finance sector.