He said the pandemic has exposed a Conservative ideology that has “weakened the foundations of our society", “failed the British people” and “proved incapable of providing security for the long-term.”

Keir Starmer said: “In a few weeks’ time, we will have a Budget that will be a fork in the road. We can go back to the same insecure and unequal economy that has been so cruelly exposed by the virus or we can seize this moment and go forward to a future that is going to look utterly unlike the past.

“I believe people are now looking for more from their government - like they were after the second world war. They’re looking for government to help them through difficult times, to provide security and to build a better future for them and their families.”

Usdaw General Secretary Paddy Lillis says: “We welcome Keir Starmer’s vision for Britain’s future. We need a government that will address the issues affecting our members; low pay, job security, housing and public services. It is clear that a Labour government led by Keir Starmer would do just that.

“Usdaw members have been living through years of job insecurity due to the problems in the retail sector and seen their local communities struggle. It was great to hear Keir call for immediate action in next month’s Budget that would support employers, provide direct assistance to those struggling, and ensure that local councils can continue to provide vital services.”

Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with over 400,000 members. Membership has increased by more than one-third over the last couple of decades. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion