TUC has no taste for blood

The National League of the Blind and Disabled is now part of the trade union community. The League’s general secretary, Gareth Davies (pictured), looks back on last month’s Trades Union Congress in Brighton

There was a TUC disability conference back in May. All the equality strands have conferences nowadays and each one ballots for a motion to go forward to congress.

We chose a motion on the Access to Work support system: in particular, on the fact that disabled people who work in the public sector are to be excluded from the scheme, with their extra needs – taxis, special software or specialist equipment – being met directly by their employers.

I don’t know whether this is going to be a big issue or not because it will depend on whether public sector managers are given budgets to meet these needs. I said that such exclusion was crass and I hope they’ll be given the necessary budget to cover it. The motion was nodded through.

The other issue I spoke on was the railways: in particular, the patchy provision of concessionary travel on trains. I said that we needed a modern, efficient and socially responsible railway for a modern, efficient and socially responsible Britain. I pointed out the various concessionary schemes which are in place, like the Disabled Person’s Railcard, which allows one third off tickets, while in Scotland, blind and partially-sighted people, for instance, travel free on the railway. I also mentioned the London Freedom Pass, which some disabled people in the capital get from their individual local authorities. I said that there needs to be greater uniformity in the concessions people receive in different parts of the country.

Harriet Harman spoke to the congress about the single equalities approach. I don’t have a problem with a single equalities bill, provided it covers all eventualities. There has to be a question as to whether the new EHRC covers all the strands of equality properly. And obviously the same is true for the act as it will become. I’m not a fan of Harriet Harman and when we had the deputy leadership election I didn’t vote for her. I’m only speaking personally and I think probably for women she’s OK. But again that’s only one of the strands of equality and we’ve still got a gender pay gap. In the end, you can’t legislate for attitudes. Let’s put it this way: we still have fears.

Gauging the mood with regard to Gordon Brown’s leadership, I’d say that most delegates thought we’re too close to a general election to go through the process of a bloodbath. Having said that, it doesn’t necessarily mean there won’t be one. I’ve got serious doubts about what’s going to happen in the next election, but I don’t think a new leader will change that.

• Gareth Davies was talking to Ian Macrae