Emergency resolution: The 2017 general election

Conference notes the announcement made on 18 April 2017 by Tory Prime Minister Theresa May to hold a general election on 8 June 2017.

Conference notes that this general election has been called to increase the Tory majority in parliament, giving them more latitude to attack the living standards and conditions of working people, including firefighters, during and after the Brexit negotiations.

Conference notes that Tory-led governments since 2010 have carried out a fundamental attack on firefighters, by enacting measures such as; 

• The pay freeze and the 1% pay cap

• The pensions attack, making us pay more, work longer and get less

• Cuts to our service – resulting in 10,000 fewer firefighters.

Conference further notes the widespread assault on working people by Tory-led governments, including; 

• The public sector pay cap reducing incomes by at least £2,000

• The 30% cut in central funding for local services, with a further 20% planned

• Huge increases in poverty, inequality and the cost of living

• The Trade Union Act, restricting the ability of trade unions to defend our members. 

Conference notes that the Labour Party goes into this election with:

• A leadership committed to standing up for working people

• A leadership openly and actively supporting the trade union movement

• A manifesto including more trade union demands and policies than for decades

• The greater involvement of trade unions in its decision making processes, including the re-affiliated FBU

• A massively increased membership of over half a million people.

Conference resolves to call for a Labour vote in every constituency where there is a Labour candidate.

Conference further resolves to support Labour candidates through active campaigning on the streets, in workplaces and in our communities. With a determined and radical campaign, raising demands in the interests of the vast majority of the population, the Tories can be defeated.

Whatever the outcome of the general election, Conference agrees that that FBU will continue to play its part in ensuring that the Labour Party continues its evolution over the last two years, including:

• Proposing trade union policies and advocating trade union rights – to strengthen workers in the workplace

• Standing up for working class people with socialist policies to challenge the power of the ultra-rich, the banks and the corporations

• Giving trade unions a strong voice within all party structures

• A democratic party, with a fully democratic, sovereign conference and vibrant CLPs, for campaigning representatives in all parliaments, councils and other public bodies subject to regular democratic accountability and re-selection, and for an end to mass expulsions and purges

• A mass membership party that actively campaigns to improve the lives of working class people at work and in our local communities.