We publish here the latest info on the blacklisting scandal from the Blacklist Support Group. Following the rejection of a public inquiry into national scandal of blacklisting by Tory Prime Minister David Cameron, the Labour Party has taken a welcome step forward by commiting to holding a full inquiry on the question of blacklisting if elected into government.
We publish here the latest info on the blacklisting scandal from the Blacklist Support Group. Following the rejection of a public inquiry into national scandal of blacklisting by Tory Prime Minister David Cameron, the Labour Party has taken a welcome step forward by commiting to holding a full inquiry on the question of blacklisting if elected into government.
Labour commits to transparent and public inquiry into blacklisting
The Labour Party National Policy Forum, held in Milton Keynes recently, decided on issues to appear in the General Election manifesto. The following wording was agreed on blacklisting:
“If the current Government will not launch a full inquiry into the disgraceful practice of blacklisting in the construction industry, the next Labour Government will. This inquiry will be transparent and public to ensure the truth is set out”
This commitment comes only days after David Cameron flatly refused a blacklisting inquiry. Vince Cable at BIS (the Department for Business, Investment, and Skills) has repeatedly turned down calls for a public inquiry.
The Blacklist Support Group issued the following statement:
“The Labour Party pledge to hold a ‘transparent and public’ inquiry into blacklisting should be applauded by everyone fighting for justice on this human rights conspiracy.
“We have been calling for this for many years – fair play to them. A big thank you to all those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make this happen.
“The Blacklist Support Group will continue to push for the broadest possible public inquiry to ensure the truth about the entire sordid conspiracy is uncovered. There is documentary proof of police and security services collusion with the Consulting Association and lawyers for the the UK government have recently admitted that blacklisting was a breach of our human rights. Blacklisting of trade unionists is no longer an industrial relations issue: it is a major human rights conspiracy between multinational corporations and the state against trade unions. We look forward to the day when directors of multinational corporations and senior undercover police officers are publicly forced to justify their illegal covert actions while giving evidence under oath.
“We won’t be cracking open the champagne just yet, however. We will continue to apply pressure through our extra-parliamentary campaigning. But this commitment to a public inquiry is a significant step forward and a vindication of our ongoing fight for justice.”
The Labour Party policy forum also made commitments to release the suppressed government papers relating to the Shrewsbury Pickets, along with commitments on false self-employment and the use of asbestos.
See the UCATT website for more info.
David Cameron says No to public inquiry on blacklisting
Labour’s commitment to a full investigation into blacklisting comes in the wake of Tory leader David Cameron stating that the Tory-led government would not be launching any inquiry into the scandal of blacklisting.
Prime Minister David Cameron was recently interviewed by award winning journalist Adam Smith (author of “Obama and Me”) and was asked about the blacklisting in the construction industry.
Adam Smith: “With the blacklisting scandal affecting over 3,000 people up and down the country is it not time for a public inquiry?”
David Cameron: “What is needed to make sure we exercise the legislation that is now in place, this is something that happened under the last government and now there is now legislation in place to stop illegal blacklisting.”
Adam Smith: “So you don’t think there should be a public inquiry?”
David Cameron: “As I say I think enforcing the law that we have now is the most important thing”.
Blacklist Support Group secretary Dave Smith responded:
“Blacklisting is a national scandal akin to McCarthyism. There is documentary proof of police and security services collusion with the Consulting Association and lawyers for the the UK government have recently admitted that blacklisting was a breach of human rights. Blacklisting of trade unionists is no longer an industrial relations issue; it is a major human rights conspiracy between multinational corporations and the state. Despite all this, David Cameron has said ‘no’ to a public inquiry.
“Blacklisting is working class phone-hacking. Only a fully independent public inquiry will get to the truth of the blacklisting human rights scandal and expose all the corporate and state spying on trade unionists who raised concerns about safety issues: UK citizens participating in perfectly peaceful democratic activities.
“It is not surprising that a Conservative Prime Minister funded by big business does not want a public inquiry. But that is what blacklisted workers, their unions and the TUC are calling for. Ed Miliband could demonstrate he supports working people against predatory capitalism by committing a future Labour government to a full public inquiry into blacklisting with be an election pledge in the manifesto.”
