Keir Starmer has seen off attempts by groups including Unite and Momentum for Labour to adopt policies that were deemed to be “un-costed”. After a weekend of wrangling at the national policy forum over the policy document that will be presented to delegates at party conference in October, the Labour leader avoided any formal votes on amendments. The final version passed with consensus, but the union and the grassroots pressure group voiced their unhappiness – claiming it did not deliver a bold enough vision for a future Labour government. Allies of Starmer were bullish they had won the argument for fiscal responsibility after a backlash among some MPs at his decision not to commit to reversing the two-child benefit cap.
A Labour spokesperson said Starmer’s programme was endorsed by the party’s “democratic policymaking body”, along with his five missions for government and the fiscal rules developed with the shadow chancellor, Rachel Reeves. “This is a serious, credible and ambitious policy programme that lays the groundwork for an election-winning manifesto and a mission-driven Labour government that will build a better Britain,” they said. “There are no unfunded spending commitments in the document.” The spokesperson added it was “another proof point that shows that Keir Starmer has changed the Labour party and is ready to change the country in government, built on the rock of economic responsibility and strong fiscal rules”. A source said even when delegates were asked to raise their hand to signal they wanted a formal vote on one of the amendments, only about 10% did so, which meant no formal vote was called. Starmer was also supported by the GMB union, which said the Labour now had a policy programme “that would make a real difference for workers and industries they work in”. As well as economic issues discussed at the NPF, delegates also agreed a position on the Gender Recognition Act that supported reform but not “self-ID”. The wording of the policy, seen by the Guardian, said that the current process of gender recognition was “intrusive, outdated and humiliating”. Labour will commit to “modernise, simplify and reform the gender recognition law to a new process, taking into account international evidence of what works effectively”, the document said. The party will continue supporting the implementation of the 2010 Equality Act, “including its provision for single-sex exemptions”. In addition, it was agreed that the party will “end discrimination against trans people, non-binary and gender diverse people, and ensure they are treated with respect and dignity in society”. After Starmer’s success at the national policy forum, the document will now be collated, proof-read and published before Labour’s party conference in the autumn. However, Unite, which is one of Britain’s biggest trade unions, said it withheld its support for the plans because they crossed several red lines. The final document failed to sufficiently address demands for workers’ rights – on issues such as collective bargaining and zero-hours contracts – the union claimed. The process was branded “chaotic” by a spokesperson, who claimed attempts to “push through changes to the policy document” were made without first sharing details with some participants. “As in any negotiation, you simply don’t sign up to something without all the detail and understanding of the impact it will have on our members and workers more widely,” the spokesperson added. “As the general election draws nearer Keir Starmer has to prove Labour will deliver for workers and we need clear policies on this.” Momentum also called the national policy forum a “missed opportunity for the Labour party to lay out real solutions to the Tories’ broken Britain”. “Trade unions and party members brought amendments on urgent, popular policies like a £15 minimum wage, strengthened workers’ rights and free school meals,” said a spokesperson. “But the leadership’s fiscal conservatism put paid to any hope for the bold, transformative policies we need. Worse, Starmer’s steadfast refusal to commit to scrap heinous Tory policies like the two-child cap and anti-protest laws means that an undemocratic and unequal status quo risks being left in place under a Labour government. Britain deserves better.”