UK News 28-09-2000 Union Bosses Call For Pension Link To Earnings who: Gordon Brown what: Defeated in party vote on pensions where: Labour Conference, BRIGHTON when: Yesterday snippet: "Trade unions inflicted a bruising defeat on Tony Blair over pensions at the Labour Party conference last night," says The Telegraph, "shattering his efforts to show that his Government was `listening` to its critics." 60.21% of conference delegates - including 84.17% of the union contingent - voted to restore the traditional link between pensions and average earnings. Amongst those in favour of an immediate pension increase was Dame Barbara Castle, who is celebrating her own 90th birthday this week. "Comrades, pass this resolution today," she said, to rapturous applause. "This country can afford it because remember one thing, the cost of the earnings link only rises if earnings are rising too. Is a wealthy country not going to afford that dignity for our pensioners?" "The vote followed angry clashes not seen at Labour`s conference since Mr Blair became leader," reports George Pascoe-Watson for The Sun. "At one point, burly GMB union boss John Edmonds was seen furiously poking his finger at the Chancellor`s chest," he continues, "as the pair clashed in a hotel corridor. And fuming Mr Brown was heard to snap: `Don`t try to dictate my f****** economic policy`." The earnings link, recalls Michael White, political editor of The Guardian, was originally abolished by Margaret Thatcher in 1979. "Had she not done so, the single pension would now be £97 a week, not £67.50". But despite its popularity yesterday, Labour leaders "shrugged off" the defeat. "I`m not going to give in to the proposal that came from the union leaders today," said Gordon Brown on BBC Radio 4. "We have said quite clearly we are not doing that." [... more]

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