In recent years trade unionists have become adept at finding silver linings to various clouds and the ConDem attack on jobs, living standards and civil society represents another opportunity to accentuate the positives writes Peter Middleman of Liverpool Trades Council.

As the penny drops that this year's TUC, in the words of RMT, is to be "lectured by a millionaire public schoolboy who has set out to destroy jobs, pensions and the standards of living of working people" the demand for the withdrawal of the invite to the prime minister is gathering pace.

The RMT is currently holding its annual general meeting in Aberdeen. Here, in the Morning Star, general secretary Bob Crow calls for the TUC to coordinate opposition to the government.