UNIONS praised Labour’s draft manifesto yesterday for its pledges on renationalisation, strengthening workers’ rights, and ending zero-hours contracts and public-sector pay cuts.

Dave Prentis - Unison general secretary

People want to see an end to the crisis in our overstretched NHS and social care system, both of which are crying out for cash as a result of underfunding and huge cuts to council budgets.

“Health workers will like proposals to lift the 1 per cent cap and scrap excessive hospital parking charges.

“Care staff and other low-paid workers will welcome plans to act on zero-hours contracts, make work fairer and raise the minimum wage.

Mark Serwotka - PCS general secretary

Labour’s manifesto pledges to end the public-sector pay cap, improve collective bargaining, repeal anti-trade union legislation and strengthen employment rights are welcome news indeed for PCS members and for all public-sector workers.

Matt Wrack - FBU general secretary

The Tories have undertaken an unprecedented and savage assault on fire services. Over 10,000 front-line firefighter posts have been axed and fire deaths are on the rise. Labour stands on a manifesto that will tilt power back towards working people.

Neil Clark - Campaign for Public Ownership

We’ve been campaigning for renationalisation for years but there’s been a taboo around public ownership. I can’t overestimate how important it is that we’re moving away from a fixation with privatisation. As for the ‘back to the ’70s’ slur — the ’70s had the lowest gap between rich and poor in Britain’s history, affordable transport, affordable homes. Bring it on!

Len McCluskey - Unite general secretary

If the British electorate can only look at [this manifesto] rather than the obsession journalists have about the leadership of the Labour Party! [These policies are] really, really exciting.