Prospect conference campaign for stronger regulation

Delegates at Prospect National Conference have voted to support a national campaign against deregulation and for better-resourced regulators. The motion was submitted by members in the Health and Safety Executive, and it commits the union to working across sectors to make the case for stronger investment in our regulators and to challenge policies that weaken protections for workers, the public and the environment.

Mike Clancy, Prospect General Secretary said:

“Conference passed an important resolution which supports and builds on our existing work demanding the government resists damaging deregulation, and instead properly fund regulators. 

“Too much of the government’s rhetoric has been about blaming agencies like HSE and Natural England, as well as supposedly excess regulation, for getting in the way of growth.  In fact the biggest barrier to growth is a lack of resource and understaffing in those bodies which deliver the existing regulatory regime. 

“Safety at work, protection of the environment and growth are not competing priorities. The only way to guarantee long term sustainable growth is to protect all three. 

“That’s why we will be campaigning for whoever the next Prime Minister is to change direction, stop talking regulators down, and put in place smart regulation and the funding necessary to deliver it.”