Britain’s opposition Labour Party is discussing cutting its staff in a bid to save costs, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.
According to the “Guardian” previously reported, the party’s ruling National Executive Committee will discuss a plan for large-scale layoffs, and at least 90 jobs are at risk.
“This is not an easy decision, and we recognise it will be a challenging time for staff,” the source, who was a party insider, told Reuters, asking not to be identified.
The source did not confirm the exact number of layoffs. Also, it stated that the party would contact interested employees and unions, adding that this step was taken to reshape the party’s operations before the next shareholder meeting.
According to the Guardian, Labour’s most recent annual report exhibited the party employed 367 staff as of December 31 2019, just after that year’s general election.
“While working-class communities are continuing to bear the brunt of the sickness and employment worries made much worse by Conservative mishandling of the pandemic, Labour is abandoning the field of battle against this government to turn its fire on its members instead,” Unite said after the plans were first reported.
After a 13-year stint in office under former prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, Labour has lost four consecutive general elections since 2010.
Since becoming leader last year, Keir Starmer, the leader of the British Labour Party, has often struggled to connect with voters and is sometimes unable to challenge the government that has won some support for a successful COVID-19 vaccination program.
Source: Yahoo Eurosport UK
