Our General Secretary, Chris Butler, comments on Unite the Union’s reluctance to call out Keir Starmer for cutting benefits while pledging to increase defence spending.
“I notice that Unite does not comment on the reason why Starmer wants to make savings in the cost of benefits.
It is so he can increase defence spending to 5% of [UK] GDP. Unite does not comment because they have workers in the Arms Industry building weapons to kill innocent women and children in Gaza, including parts for the F35 fighter planes used to blitz Gaza.
Unite also has members building Small Modular Reactors producing nuclear power.
I don’t think Unite supports Welfare not Warfare.”
Chris Butler 30-6-2025
(It is worth noting that the UK currently spends 2.3% of its GDP on defence, which in 2024 was around £64 billion. The proposal by Starmer to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP will mean by 2035, the UK will be spending £140 billion every year on defence.)
Unite’s silent hypocrisy on Benefit Cuts
