Berny Torre

1 week ago | morningstaronline.co.uk | Berny Torre

USDAW general secretary Paddy Lillis slammed Israel’s ”absolutely indefensible” targeting of civilians in Gaza during a speech today at the retail union’s annual conference. It is ”incomprehensible” that five to nine-year-olds are the age group with the highest number of fatalities, he added.

1 week ago | morningstaronline.co.uk | Berny Torre

USDAW general secretary Paddy Lillis has defended his legacy and vowed to continue supporting Labour after he retires in July. The 67-year-old said that he was only stepping back after reversing the devastating 77,000 decline in the retail union’s membership during the Covid-19 pandemic and because of his confidence in Sir Keir Starmer’s government.

1 week ago | morningstaronline.co.uk | Berny Torre

THE severe M&S cyber attack shows why biometric eye-scanners should not be rolled out in shops and airports, Usdaw’s annual conference heard today. Proposals to allow police, Border Force and shopworkers to use iris ID scanners could tackle benefit fraud, save police time and prevent assaults on shop staff when customers are required to verify their age, the conference in Blackpool was told.

1 week ago | morningstaronline.co.uk | Berny Torre

MINISTERS were urged to “immediately” bring Britain’s six biggest energy companies into public ownership and reverse cuts to the winter fuel allowance at Usdaw’s annual conference today. Labour needs to win back the trust of working-class communities following its rout to Reform UK in last week’s local elections, delegates heard. Chants of “no” were heard at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens as they hit out at profiteering by energy giants during the cost-of-living crisis.

1 week ago | morningstaronline.co.uk | Berny Torre

HEALTH SECRETARY Wes Streeting said that Labour “should be really worried” over Reform UK’s sweeping victories in last week’s local elections during his address and Q&A at the Usdaw annual conference today.