Union membership on the rise for first time in a decade – Media roundup: May 30th, 2013

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Union membership on the rise for first time in a decade

“The number of employees in the UK who are trade union members rose by 59,000 to 6.5 million in 2012, according to a report published today. The increase was the first since 2003 and was largely fuelled by a rise in the number of workers in private companies who were joining unions, the research suggested. However, the total number remains well short of the peak of more than 13 million union members in 1979. The study, from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, follows an escalation of trade union leaders’ rhetoric against the government’s cuts to public spending. Some have even raised the prospect of the first national strike since the 1920s. Frances O’Grady, the general secretary of the TUC, welcomed the increase in union membership and warned that campaigns against austerity would now gather pace.” – Telegraph

A&E crisis continues

“Labour has has published figures showing a 24% increase in the number of ambulances being turned away from A&E departments that are full. Andy Burnham, the shadow health secretary, said the party would use a summit on emergency care on Thursday to draw up “practical proposals” to ease pressure on A&E units. He also urged Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, to suspend further A&E closures pending a review. Labour said the number of “A&E diverts” in England – when ambulances are turned away from one A&E department with no space and sent to another hospital – rose from 287 in 2011-12 to 357 in 2012-13, an increase of 24%. Burnham believes the problem is continuing to get worse. In recent weeks, A&E departments that have had to turn ambulances away include Queen’s hospital in Romford, Whipps Cross in Waltham Forest, Princess Royal in Bromley, Lewisham hospital, Northwick Park in Newham and King George in Ilford. On the Monday bank holiday, the Royal Liverpool hospital also had to send A&E patients elsewhere for a time.” – Guardian

Miliband vs Brown

“Ed Miliband is viewed by voters as less trustworthy, decisive or competent than Gordon Brown, according to a new poll. The Labour leader scores at consistently poorer levels in the YouGov poll than his predecessor did after the party’s 2010 general election defeat…However, when voters were asked for a direct comparision between Mr Miliband and Mr Brown, they rated the present leader better than his predecessor. Thirty-two per cent said that Mr Miliband was a better leader than Mr Brown with 17 per cent saying he was worse. Forty-one per cent said that he was no better or no worse…. In the latest poll, Mr Miliband is regarded as better than Mr Brown by an overwhelming majority of those planning to vote Labour in 2015 (50-16) but also by a majority of those planning to vote Lib Dem (34-24) and UKIP (28-15).” – The Times(£)

Other highlights

• With a bit of chutzpah, Miliband could rip the Tories in half over the EU. Does he dare? – Rafael Behr, New Statesman
• After Woolwich, we should not ‘Prevent’ certain views, but engage with them – John Denham, Guardian
• Ed Miliband has one of the most experienced Shadow Cabinets’ since the war – Kevin Meagher, Labour Uncut