Just one simple question- why isn't John Hutton in the Conservative Party? From today's Morning Star.......
FURIOUS union leaders rounded on New Labour after Business Secretary John Hutton boasted that Britain leads the world in privatising public services.
Mr Hutton proudly unveiled a slanted study led by right-wing economist DeAnne Julius, which recommended more "outsourcing" of public services to profit-hungry privateers.
He pledged: "We will now come forward with measures to support the future development of this sector."
Ms Julius's report claimed that so-called competitive tendering has led to cost savings of between 10 and 30 per cent and also improved service quality in some cases, although it was vague about what benefits had accrued to users.
She said: "Together, these firms provide a huge range of services - from welfare-to-work at the local level to complex military support packages - and, in doing so, make a significant contribution to UK citizens and taxpayers."
But public-sector union UNISON pointed out that the advisory panel appointed by the government for the review was packed with privateers holding lucrative public service contracts.
"We need a genuinely independent review of the public services industry, one that asks whether its increasing role and influence is really in the interests of taxpayers and public service users, rather than simply asking multinational companies what would make their lives easier," said general secretary Dave Prentis.
"Lately, we've heard the usual complaints about the government listening to the trade unions too much, but this exercise shows who's really calling the shots."
Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail called the report "a thinly disguised case for privatisation which fragments public services and does not deliver value for money.
"It is time for an end to this market madness. We are campaigning for the retreat of private-sector involvement in our public services."
General union GMB, which also represents thousands of public service workers, said that the review was "like asking foxes how to make it easier to get into the henhouse."
National officer Brian Strutton said: "This is a completely one-sided report, as you might expect.
"It starts by assuming that public-sector services are best provided by the private sector, but there is no evidence that this is the case.
"It should be balanced by a similar report about in-house services which are generally examples of excellence."
"The idea the report puts forward that public services are an industry is both wacky and dangerous," said Mr Strutton.
"Care for the elderly isn't an industry. Schools are not an industry. Nursing is not an industry. Industry puts profit first and public services are fundamentally different."
Despite the volley of criticism from the labour movement, Mr Hutton claimed: "The ideological battle over using private and third-sector providers is over."
Civil Service union PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka countered that, in the same week as the Julius report, the Commons public administration select committee had said that there is no compelling evidence to support the government's claim that the third sector is "transforming" public services.
"It is appalling that this Labour government is now more obsessed with selling off our public services to put profits in the pockets of millionaires than caring about the lives of the millions of people who rely on those services," he added.
Mr Hutton proudly unveiled a slanted study led by right-wing economist DeAnne Julius, which recommended more "outsourcing" of public services to profit-hungry privateers.
He pledged: "We will now come forward with measures to support the future development of this sector."
Ms Julius's report claimed that so-called competitive tendering has led to cost savings of between 10 and 30 per cent and also improved service quality in some cases, although it was vague about what benefits had accrued to users.
She said: "Together, these firms provide a huge range of services - from welfare-to-work at the local level to complex military support packages - and, in doing so, make a significant contribution to UK citizens and taxpayers."
But public-sector union UNISON pointed out that the advisory panel appointed by the government for the review was packed with privateers holding lucrative public service contracts.
"We need a genuinely independent review of the public services industry, one that asks whether its increasing role and influence is really in the interests of taxpayers and public service users, rather than simply asking multinational companies what would make their lives easier," said general secretary Dave Prentis.
"Lately, we've heard the usual complaints about the government listening to the trade unions too much, but this exercise shows who's really calling the shots."
Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail called the report "a thinly disguised case for privatisation which fragments public services and does not deliver value for money.
"It is time for an end to this market madness. We are campaigning for the retreat of private-sector involvement in our public services."
General union GMB, which also represents thousands of public service workers, said that the review was "like asking foxes how to make it easier to get into the henhouse."
National officer Brian Strutton said: "This is a completely one-sided report, as you might expect.
"It starts by assuming that public-sector services are best provided by the private sector, but there is no evidence that this is the case.
"It should be balanced by a similar report about in-house services which are generally examples of excellence."
"The idea the report puts forward that public services are an industry is both wacky and dangerous," said Mr Strutton.
"Care for the elderly isn't an industry. Schools are not an industry. Nursing is not an industry. Industry puts profit first and public services are fundamentally different."
Despite the volley of criticism from the labour movement, Mr Hutton claimed: "The ideological battle over using private and third-sector providers is over."
Civil Service union PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka countered that, in the same week as the Julius report, the Commons public administration select committee had said that there is no compelling evidence to support the government's claim that the third sector is "transforming" public services.
"It is appalling that this Labour government is now more obsessed with selling off our public services to put profits in the pockets of millionaires than caring about the lives of the millions of people who rely on those services," he added.
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12 comments:
I was interested to note (p71 of the report) that both TUC and UNISON were represented on the Advisory Panel for the review. The question must have arisen of whether they were legitimising what was, as you suggest, a report which started from a viewpoint that 'outsourcing' is intrinsically good. Perhaps the TUC and UNISON thought that as it's happening anyway they should at least try to mitigate.
My own initial review, which also accepts the reality of outsourcing but looks at how the report really misses/avoids the point about service quality post-privatisation, is at http://www.bickerstafferecord.org.uk/?p=235. It also makes reference to how privatisation (of leisure services in this case) is actually experienced 'on the ground' at a local level
My fuller review will of course take up the more 'union' issues re: worker rights.
Hutton was the minister responsible for introducing the Welfare Reform Act, embracing the more radical parts of it that former DWP secretaries like Alan Johnson baulked at, now its Purnell a man cut out of similar cloth who is leading the charge to further privatise welfare.
A question though, where were the Unions when Hutton as DWP boss embarked on the welfare privatisations?
Yes what did PCS and its left leadership do ????!!! about privatisation
all talk
no delievery
Hutton
I understand some in his Barrow Constituency Party members want to look at deselection
I suggest he jumps now !
entreyism of the worst kind
when will he get that private sector directors job ????
I hear Norwich Union are looking for ex ministers
Why doesnt Hutton stand down and fight a by election on privatisation
if he so pro privatisation
come on John give us a by election
Its time he was expelled
On possible deselection for Mr H, friends in the CLP there tell me he was reselected for Barrow in 2006, without much fuss.
Can't see NW Regional LP going with any moves now.
I can't see what benefit the unions will gain from handing over money to the Labour party when people like Hutton are seen as legitimate members of it, let alone MP's or ministers.
He is very clearly a Tory.
I think the infighting for Browns job will now take over with Hutton Harriet and miliband all throwing into the race, I think the next election is lost and they are all looking which one can carry Blair's dream of a 1000 year New Labour party, mind you it might take that long to get back into power.
Purnell is another I think might be now coming out with a 1000 year dream like we must have a final solutions for the disabled. I do not know if they allowed wheelchair users into the army perhaps the mobility unit, die get a medal buried at the government expenses , better then being gassed in the new Labour work camps.
Purnell is no better on privitisation - he has basically invited the whole world to put bids in for any part of the DWP they feel they might make a profit from...
When asked if there will be a safety net for those who have been stripped of state benefits:
James Purnell replied, "There will be crisis loans but it is about creating a system which gives people the incentive to do the right thing instead of giving them the incentive to be dishonest."
The man is beyond contempt. Crisis loans for people who already live in grinding poverty. And this "dishonesty" garbage...Further evidence that NL just want to grind the poor into the ground.
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