The TUC’s general secretary today joined the Archbishop of Canterbury and leaders of different faiths at a national summit in London’s East End calling for a more inclusive economy to tackle the recession.
Frances O’Grady shared the platform with Archbishop Justin Welby in keynote addresses at the summit staged at Queen Mary’s university college in Mile End.
Speakers called for a broad citizens’ alliance to press for fair pay and an economy “that works for communities and families—not just the City.”
Five million people earn less than the living wage with poverty standards now holding back Britain’s economic recovery, the TUC leader warned.
The summit is the first step in setting up a citizens’ alliance to influence the 2015 General Election and create a new wave of social action.
It was staged by the London Citizens UK organisation based at Whitechapel, in the heart of the deprived East End, whose founder and director Neil Jameson said: “The key to a healthy democracy is a strong and organised civil society.”
Other religious leaders taking part were the Bishop of Stepney, Adrian Newman, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols and leaders of the Jewish Liberal and Reformed movements and the Muslim Council of Britain.
Speakers also included Queen Mary’s college principal Simon Gaskell. His college was the first to become a Living Wage university employer in 2006.
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