Without question, this is the speech of the best, most progressive general secretary the TUC has ever had.
At the TUC march on Saturday, Frances O’Grady started by saying what a tough year it had been for trade unions, having lost “our brother, Bob Crow, and our teacher, Tony Benn“.
She said how proud she was of all those workers who had been on strike that week.
She belittled the idea of there not being enough money for public services and a living wage at the same time as boardroom greed, tax cuts for the rich and tax dodging.
And she attacked the blame and retribution wreaked on migrants, and UKIP’s role in stirring that up.
Let’s hear it for Frances!
Frances O’Grady is to take over from Brendan Barber as TUC General Secretary when he retires at the end of the year. Ms O’Grady has been at the TUC as Deputy General Secretary for nine years and in other capacities for another nine, before which she worked as a researcher and campaigner on social justice and equality issues at the Transport and General Workers Union. She is seen by many as being on the Left. Frances O’Grady said: 