Labour and the Unions
According to the latest opinion polls support for the Labour party is at an all time low.
Only 20% or so (1 in 5) of the general public are now fans of the Labour party, apparently – and things have been heading that way for some considerable time.
Yet trade union bosses have continued to act as loyal cheerleaders for Labour – filling the party coffers on a regular basis - in the full knowledge that their political views are not shared by ordinary union members.
People inside and outside the Labour party believe the present situation cannot continue – witness what the Work and Pensions Minister, James Purnell, had to say recently in the Guardian newspaper (before he resigned from the government):
“The block grants that trade unions contribute towards my party represent a collective donation on behalf of millions of working people, but that contribution has to be more directly made.”
And he’s not alone – here’s what another regular Guardian commentator, Polly Toynbee had to say about Labour’s finances:
“The party is in £11.5 million debt, with no donors – putting it in a firmer grip of a few union barons who themselves represent a smaller fragment of the people than ever. In many hollowed-out local parties, mandated union branches pick the (Labour) councillors and parliamentary candidates. As the parliamentary democratic deficit is uncovered, Labour sees its own moral corrosion.”
What we are witnessing is the slow death of a discredited system that allows trade unions to pretend that they reflect the views of their members – when it comes to party politics.
And that slow death is a good thing – because the present system of affiliating to just one party is unhealthy - and bad for our democracy.
Trade union members are absolutely entitled to support whatever political party they choose – if any.
But they should do so on an individual basis – with their own money, time and energy.
Only 20% or so (1 in 5) of the general public are now fans of the Labour party, apparently – and things have been heading that way for some considerable time.
Yet trade union bosses have continued to act as loyal cheerleaders for Labour – filling the party coffers on a regular basis - in the full knowledge that their political views are not shared by ordinary union members.
People inside and outside the Labour party believe the present situation cannot continue – witness what the Work and Pensions Minister, James Purnell, had to say recently in the Guardian newspaper (before he resigned from the government):
“The block grants that trade unions contribute towards my party represent a collective donation on behalf of millions of working people, but that contribution has to be more directly made.”
And he’s not alone – here’s what another regular Guardian commentator, Polly Toynbee had to say about Labour’s finances:
“The party is in £11.5 million debt, with no donors – putting it in a firmer grip of a few union barons who themselves represent a smaller fragment of the people than ever. In many hollowed-out local parties, mandated union branches pick the (Labour) councillors and parliamentary candidates. As the parliamentary democratic deficit is uncovered, Labour sees its own moral corrosion.”
What we are witnessing is the slow death of a discredited system that allows trade unions to pretend that they reflect the views of their members – when it comes to party politics.
And that slow death is a good thing – because the present system of affiliating to just one party is unhealthy - and bad for our democracy.
Trade union members are absolutely entitled to support whatever political party they choose – if any.
But they should do so on an individual basis – with their own money, time and energy.
