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PM says UK recovering but fragile PM says UK recovering but fragile
(about 2 hours later)
Britain is on the road towards recovery but things remain fragile, Prime Minister Gordon Brown will tell the TUC's annual congress this week.Britain is on the road towards recovery but things remain fragile, Prime Minister Gordon Brown will tell the TUC's annual congress this week.
He will warn of tough choices in public spending but call on the unions to support the government's approach.He will warn of tough choices in public spending but call on the unions to support the government's approach.
TUC general Secretary Brendan Barber is expected to warn that cuts in public spending would be catastrophic and return the country to recession.TUC general Secretary Brendan Barber is expected to warn that cuts in public spending would be catastrophic and return the country to recession.
On Friday, Mr Brown held talks with union bosses at his Chequers residence.On Friday, Mr Brown held talks with union bosses at his Chequers residence.
The TUC's congress, which starts in Liverpool on Monday, will be the last one before the next general election and it comes at a time of strained relations between the unions and the government.The TUC's congress, which starts in Liverpool on Monday, will be the last one before the next general election and it comes at a time of strained relations between the unions and the government.
But Mr Brown will deliver an upbeat message to delegates when he speaks on Tuesday, declaring "we are on the road to recovery", though he will say this will not be automatic and the recovery will need to be nurtured.But Mr Brown will deliver an upbeat message to delegates when he speaks on Tuesday, declaring "we are on the road to recovery", though he will say this will not be automatic and the recovery will need to be nurtured.
People's livelihoods and homes and savings are still hanging in the balance Gordon Brown 'Stimulate the economy'
The prime minister will warn of tough choices in public spending but say that he will protect front-line jobs first and urge TUC members not to disrupt the government's efforts with industrial action. The prime minister will say that he will protect front-line jobs and urge TUC members not to disrupt the government's efforts with industrial action.
We're up for a reform programme, but we're up for a programme which improves our public services Dave Prentis, Unison
In his speech, Mr Brown will say: "People's livelihoods and homes and savings are still hanging in the balance, and so today I say to you: don't put the recovery at risk.In his speech, Mr Brown will say: "People's livelihoods and homes and savings are still hanging in the balance, and so today I say to you: don't put the recovery at risk.
"We have to make tough choices in public spending and we will need the support of the labour movement in protecting the front line first.""We have to make tough choices in public spending and we will need the support of the labour movement in protecting the front line first."
Sarah Veale, the TUC's head of equality and employment rights, told the BBC that cuts were not necessary.
"There are strong arguments, which we are putting to the government, that if you actually stimulate the economy by public spending, actually you can improve the chances of pulling out of the recession quicker," she said.
"So I think arguing that you've got to make big cuts in public services is not necessarily the case and there are other ways of dealing with the difficulties which we are in."
Chancellor Alistair Darling's hints at a much tighter rein on public spending - to meet the commitment to tackle the budget deficit - have reinforced the unions' concerns about jobs.Chancellor Alistair Darling's hints at a much tighter rein on public spending - to meet the commitment to tackle the budget deficit - have reinforced the unions' concerns about jobs.
But Dave Prentis, general secretary of the public service union Unison, said money could still be saved while preserving jobs.
"When people are asked the question about whether they want to keep their nurses, their doctors, their schools... people say that they're willing to pay taxes for it," he told the BBC.
"Public spending may be a different issue. There are many things we can look at to actually control public spending and like the government we want efficient public services.
Don't risk it with the Tories Gordon Brown
"We don't want to defend waste, we're up for a reform programme, but we're up for a programme which improves our public services."
'Anti-state ideology''Anti-state ideology'
But the prime minister will say jobs would be at greater risk under the Conservatives. The prime minister will tell the conference that public sector jobs would be at greater risk under the Conservatives.
"Don't risk it with the Tories whose obsessive anti-state ideology means they can't see a role for government in either recession or recovery," he will say."Don't risk it with the Tories whose obsessive anti-state ideology means they can't see a role for government in either recession or recovery," he will say.
"Our opponents have one approach to reducing the deficit: slashing jobs and abandoning national pay bargaining."Our opponents have one approach to reducing the deficit: slashing jobs and abandoning national pay bargaining.
"We have another - taking tough choices and empowering those who deliver services to innovate and secure greater value for money.""We have another - taking tough choices and empowering those who deliver services to innovate and secure greater value for money."
On Friday, the prime minister met 15 trade union leaders for three hours ahead of the annual congress.On Friday, the prime minister met 15 trade union leaders for three hours ahead of the annual congress.
No 10 said the talks were "wide-ranging" and "constructive".No 10 said the talks were "wide-ranging" and "constructive".
The government says it wants to halve the budget deficit - expected to be £175bn this year - over the next four years but unions say this must not involve mass redundancies.The government says it wants to halve the budget deficit - expected to be £175bn this year - over the next four years but unions say this must not involve mass redundancies.
Despite recent signs of a tentative economic recovery, there are fears that the number of people out of work could top the three million mark by the end of the year.Despite recent signs of a tentative economic recovery, there are fears that the number of people out of work could top the three million mark by the end of the year.