Open and Accountable

I was intrigued by this piece from Paul Hutcheon which appeared in last week's Sunday Herald - because I have spoken to many ordinary unions members in the last eight years - more often than not to do with equal pay.

But never have I heard of an individual member getting this kind of treatment - in fact I cannot recall a similar case throughout the entire length of my trade union career - which spanned 20 years and ended with my role as Unison's Head of Local Government in Scotland.

What all this secrecy highlights is the fact that the country's current Freedom of Information (FOI) regime doesn't go nearly far enough - because organisations like trade unions are exempt even though they benefit from and use public money in lots of different ways.  

Now I would have thought that most Unite members would want to know if their trade union has provided such a 'Rolls Royce' service to just one individual - and I imagine they would probably like to understand the reasons why, as well.

Yet trade unions don't have to provide an answer to this very simple question - even though the unions are very keen that FOI should apply to just about everyone else you can think of - and then some.

Just another couple of reasons that trade unions should be more accountable and properly regulated as public and private organisations are in other walks of life - the banks, the NHS, local councils, MSPs, MPs, local councillors, dentists, doctors,nurses and maybe even lobbyists soon.

Union faces questions over legal fees for Labour candidate

By Paul Hutcheon

Labour's biggest trades union affiliate, Unite, is facing more questions about the controversial selection process in Falkirk, over whether it picked up the bill for its favoured candidate's legal costs.

Unite, which has been supporting Karie Murphy in the safe Labour seat, said it would "not comment" when asked if the union had paid elite legal firm Mishcon de Reya – which represented Princess Diana in her divorce – to represent her.

Labour's selection battle in Falkirk, triggered by the departure of sitting MP Eric Joyce, is fast becoming one of the ugliest internal contests in years.

Other than Murphy, who works for party deputy chair Tom Watson and is an ally of Unite general secretary Len McCluskey, the contenders for the seat are local councillor Linda Gow and communications expert, Gregor Poynton.

Labour had to suspend the process last month amid accusations Unite had signed up dozens of new members to the local constituency party in a bid to help Murphy.

Labour is now probing allegations that some of the new members may have been pressured into joining, and it is also investigating claims that recruits were signed up without them filling in application forms.

The investigation is expected to be completed this month.

Party bosses also halted a Unite-funded local consultation on whether there should be an all-women shortlist after concerns were expressed about the survey's fairness.

However, the spotlight has now shifted onto who has been paying Murphy's legal bills over the last four months.

When the Sunday Herald first began making enquiries about Murphy's departure from a previous trade union, Unison, London-based Mischon de Reya answered all questions on her behalf. The legal firm has also responded to questions about Murphy and Falkirk.

On whether Unite has been, or will be, paying Murphy's legal costs, a union spokesman said: "Unite offers the best legal support possible to all our members across the widest range of circumstances. We do not comment on individual cases."

Asked if that also included media and libel lawyers, he said: "I think the response covers it."

Unite's website lists the legal services available to members as "personal injury", "employment issues", "free will writing", "probate and estate administration" and "financial mis-selling".

A Unite source said: "In all my time as a Unite member, I have never heard of a member receiving support for a media lawyer."

Mishcon de Reya is one of the most highly regarded legal firms in London and, according to legalweek.com, it recorded turnover of £83.5 million in 2012-13.

Despite the row, there is uncertainty over whether Murphy is even in the race, after a party source was quoted last month as saying Murphy was "now not going to run". This claim has never been confirmed.

In a recent statement, Unite Scotland regional secretary Pat Rafferty said: "The pressure Karie Murphy has come under from this 'professional' political class sniping should not be allowed to dent her reputation as a highly articulate and passionate woman with a history of fighting for ordinary people."

Greg Hands, a Tory MP and Government whip, said: "Unite seems to have used a lot of resources in this contest, and their members will want to know whether they are picking up the huge bill for legal firm Mishcon de Reya.

"This also brings into focus the battle being fought by Unite to take over the Labour Party from the inside."

Mishcon de Reya did not respond to the Sunday Herald.