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GMB Conference ’18 Corbyn: May is ‘too weak’ to defend British workers from Trump's attacks

THERESA MAY is “too weak” to stand up to US President Donald Trump’s attacks on British workers, Jeremy Corbyn is due to charge in a speech today.

At general union GMB’s annual conference in Brighton, the Labour leader will lash out at the Tories’ “timid” reaction to Mr Trump’s unilateral increase on steel tariffs.

The Labour leader is to warn that “trying to hold back the tide” is no substitute for a “proactive government” interested in “modernising and upgrading industry so that it is cleaner and more efficient.”

He will accuse Ms May of appeasement as she chases a “race-to-the-bottom” trade deal with Mr Trump after Brexit, adding: “The Tories are simply too weak to stand up to the powerful.”

Mr Corbyn will outline how workers will play a “vital and active” role within any future Labour administration led by him.

He is due to say: “The next Labour government will work with the real experts — workers, technicians, engineers and designers, their unions, consumers and communities — to upgrade our economy by taking on the power of the tiny elite that’s holding us back with their failed free-market fundamentalism.”

Recognising GMB’s campaign to nationalise the water industry, Mr Corbyn assured delegates of Labour’s support for ending the “failed and unpopular” privatisation of Britain’s water, which has been bad for bill-payers and workers alike.

And he will inform conference that under new general secretary Jennie Formby, all Labour staff will now be paid at least £10 an hour.

GMB rep and Young Labour national executive committee representative Lara McNeill drew attention last month to jobs at Labour’s Newcastle call centre being advertised at only £8.75 per hour — below the “real living wage” commitment of £10 in Labour’s last manifesto.

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