Margaret Beckett delivered a wide-ranging speech to the TUC in which she praised TUC support for Iraqi unions. In particular, she said that The TUC itself has at its very core a belief in those fundamental human rights and freedoms that empower individuals and which are the bedrock of true democracy. And just last week in Iraq I was hearing about the work that the TUC is doing in supporting and training the General Federation of Iraqi Workers: work which is as brave as it is vital. People across the world have more freedom to meet, to speak their mind, and to earn a decent living wage because of what union activists in this country have done.