Government does not have ‘mandate for damaging cuts’

Public service unions have warned the new coalition government that the general election provided no popular support for swingeing cuts to public services, and that the electoral system does not give voters real choice.

Dave Prentis, general secretary of the largest public service union, UNISON, said: “All those politicians need reminding that there is no popular support for brutal cuts in public spending that would have followed an outright Conservative victory.”

The PCS civil service union also said that “the lack of clear support for the Tories in the general election and poor showings for Labour and the Liberal Democrats gives the next government no mandate for damaging cuts and further privatisation”.

PCS said the election results were “further confirmation of the need for a reform of our electoral system to allow more pro-public sector voices into politics”. A survey conducted by the union as part of its Make your vote count campaign just before polling day had shown “a broad consensus among the main Westminster parties for cuts to public sector jobs and services”.

The union’s general secretary, Mark Serwotka, said: “This election has been closely fought, but over a worryingly narrow set of policies. Our campaign has exposed the gaps in this political consensus and identified the need for candidates that will stand up for public services.”